The Price He Paid — page 199: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

190 | A SICK-BED CONFESSION. “Do not excite yourself, my dear colleague,” im- plored Dr. Berndt, gently. “No agitation, 1 beg. Quiet, rest, and the greatest caution! But now that you are yourself again, is there no wish, no desire you would like to express?” : His face said plainly that he expected nothing less than a last will or dying bequest. Ignoring such subjects, however, the patient re- plied with perfect equanimity : “Certainly; I have the most pressing wish and desire for something to eat.” © “To eat!” asked the doctor, in surprise. “To eat! Well, if you like, we may try a little beef-tea.” “A little won’t do,” said Max. “I shall wanta — great deal; but I think I would rather have some- thing a trifle more substantial than beef-tea. <A steak, now—in fact, 1 could eat two.” “Dear, dear, dear!” exclaimed the little Escula- pius, laying his fingers on the sick man’s pulse, for he began to think his patient was delirious. but Max drew away his hand impatiently. “Don’t make such a fuss about that crack in my head-piece. It will be wellina week. I know my constitution.” Dr. Berndt looked with commiseration at this poor deluded creature, who had so little knowledge of his situation. : “You mistake your condition, my friend. You are very ill, notwithstanding this flicker of vitality. You have lain two whole days prostrated by a violent fever.” “Thatis no reason why I should not feel very well on the third, when the fever has left me. Flicker of vitality! Do you really imagine Iam in danger?” “YT do not imagine it—it is a fact,” said Dr. Berndt, a little piqued. “Seriously, I fear——” “You need not fear anything at all,” interrupted Max. “I have not the smallest intention of going over to the majority at presefit. But now, have the eked ope to tell me exactly how I have been treated.” ) It was only when the question was reiterated in Eomichooks. co