Thedoctorcameoutoftheroomagain, , , , , and, bowingapologetically, ; therewasascaredlookinhiseyes.

"YourExcellency, yourExcellency...isitpossible?" hebegan, , asthoughawordfromhimmightstillchangethepoorboy'sfate.

"Ican'thelpit, IamnotGod!" thedoctoransweredoffhand, thoughwiththecustomaryimpressiveness.

"Doctor...yourExcellency...andwillitbesoon, soon?"

"Youmustbepreparedforanything," saidthedoctorinemphaticandincisivetones, anddroppinghiseyes, hewasabouttostepouttothecoach.

"YourExcellency, forChrist'ssake!" theterrorstrickencaptainstoppedhimagain."YourExcellency! butcannothing, absolutelynothingsavehimnow?"

"It'snotinmyhandsnow," saidthedoctorimpatiently, "buth'm!..." hestoppedsuddenly."Ifyoucould, forinstance...send...yourpatient...atonce, withoutdelay" (thewords "atonce, withoutdelay," thedoctorutteredwithanalmostwrathfulsternnessthatmadethecaptainstart) "toSyracuse, thechangetothenewbe-ne-ficialclimaticconditionsmightpossiblyeffect—"

"ToSyracuse!" criedthecaptain, unabletograspwhatwassaid.

"SyracuseisinSicily," .

"Sicily! yourExcellency," falteredthecaptain, "butyou'veseen"—hespreadouthishands, indicatinghissurroundings—"mammaandmyfamily?"

"N—no, Sicilyisnottheplaceforthefamily, thefamilyshouldgotoCaucasusintheearlyspring...yourdaughtermustgototheCaucasus, andyourwife...afteracourseofthewatersintheCaucasusforherrheumatism...mustbesentstraighttoParistothementalspecialistLepelletier; Icouldgiveyouanotetohim, andthen...theremightbeachange—"