صفحة 328 من 2288

He thought it natural because he did it every day, and felt and

thought, as it seemed to him, no harm as he did it and

consequently he considered modesty in the girl not merely as a

relic of barbarism, but also as an insult to himself.

There was nothing for it but to submit, since, although all the

doctors had studied in the same school, had read the same books,

and learned the same science, and though some people said this

celebrated doctor was a bad doctor, in the princess's household

and circle it was for some reason accepted that this celebrated

doctor alone had some special knowledge, and that he alone could

save Kitty. After a careful examination and sounding of the

bewildered patient, dazed with shame, the celebrated doctor,

having scrupulously washed his hands, was standing in the

drawing-room talking to the prince. The prince frowned and

coughed, listening to the doctor. As a man who had seen something

of life, and neither a fool nor an invalid, he had no faith in

medicine, and in his heart was furious at the whole farce,

specially as he was perhaps the only one who fully comprehended

the cause of Kitty's illness.