Thus I knew when my near neighbours died; sometimes the
howls were near, sometimes more distant. Once I was awakened in
the night by the wail of death in the next house, and another time
by a like howl from the house opposite; and there were two or three
minutes, I recollect, during which the howl seemed to be actually
running along the street.
I happened to be rather teased at this time by a sore throat, and I
thought it would be well to get it cured if I could before I again
started on my travels. I therefore inquired for a Frank doctor,
and was informed that the only one then at Cairo was a young
Bolognese refugee, who was so poor that he had not been able to
take flight, as the other medical men had done. At such a time as
this it was out of the question to send for an European physician;
a person thus summoned would be sure to suppose that the patient
was ill of the plague, and would decline to come. I therefore rode
to the young doctor's residence. After experiencing some little
difficulty in finding where to look for him, I ascended a flight or
two of stairs and knocked at his door. No one came immediately,
but after some little delay the medico himself opened the door, and
admitted me.
Pages:
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277