human
Many things, said Capper, somewhat snappishly.
gpt
Chief among them, why your tomfool brother--you call him your brother, I suppose?--brought me over here on a fool's errand.
human
He is my brother, said Lucas quietly.
gpt
And why a fool's errand? Is there something about my case you don't like?
human
There is nothing whatever, said Capper, with an exasperated tug at his pointed beard.
gpt
I could make a sound man of you. It wouldn't be easy. But I could do it--given one thing, which I shan't get. Is the sun bothering you?
human
I guess I won't talk to you now, he said.
gpt
I've given you as much as you can stand and then some already. How's that? Is it comfort?
human
Absolute, Lucas said with a smile.
gpt
Don't go, doctor. I am quite able to talk. I suppose matters haven't altered very materially since you saw me last?
human
I don't see why you should suppose that, said Capper.
gpt
As a matter of fact things have altered--altered considerably. Say, you don't have those fainting attacks any more?
human
No. I've learnt not to faint.
gpt
But the pain is just as infernal, eh? Only you've the grit to stand against it. Remember the last time I overhauled you? You fainted twice. That's how I knew you would never face it. But I've hurt you worse to-day, and I'm damned if I know how you managed to come up smiling.
human
Then why do you surmise that you have been brought here on a fool's errand?
gpt
I don't surmise, said Capper.
human
I never surmise. I know. He began to crack his fingers impatiently, and presently fell to whistling below his breath.
gpt
No, he said suddenly,
human
That brother of yours that you're so fond of, now if it were he, I could pull him out of the very jaws of hell. He'd catch and hold. But you--you are too near the other place to care. Say, you don't care, do you, not a single red cent? It's all one to you--under Providence--whether you live or die. And if I operated on you to-morrow you'd die--not at once, but sooner or later--from sheer lack of enthusiasm. That's my difficulty. It's too long a business. You would never keep it up.
gpt
I guess I'm too old, doctor, he said at last.
human
But you are wrong in one sense. I do care. I don't want to die at present.
gpt
Private reasons?
human
Not particularly. You see, I am the head of the family. I hold myself responsible. My brothers want looking after, more or less.
gpt
Brothers! sniffed Capper, with supreme contempt.
human
That consideration wouldn't keep you out of heaven. It's only another reason for holding back.
gpt
Exactly, Lucas said quietly.
human
I don't know what Nap will say to me. He will call me a shirker. But on the whole, doctor, I think I must hold back a little longer.
gpt
He'd better let me hear him! growled Capper.
human
I wish to heaven you were married. That's the kernel of the difficulty. You want a wife. You'd be keen enough then. I shouldn't be afraid of your letting go when I wasn't looking.
gpt
Ah! Lucas said, faintly smiling.
human
But what of the wife?
gpt
She'd be in her element, maintained Capper stoutly.
human
She'd be to you what the mainspring is to a watch, and glory in it. Haven't you seen such women? I have, scores of 'em, ready made for the purpose. No, you will only go through my treatment with a woman to hold you up. It's a process that needs the utmost vitality, the utmost courage, and--something great to live for--a motive power behind to push you on. There's only one motive power that I can think of strong enough to keep you moving. And that is most unfortunately absent. Find the woman, I tell you, find the woman! And--under Providence--I'll do the rest!