Page:Garshin - A Red Flower (1911).djvu/26

24 and high grass surrounded them. The inmates, one by one, passed through the door, at which stood an attendant, who gave each one a thick, white cotton cap, with a red decoration sewed on in front. These caps were used during the war and were bought at auction. The patient seemed to give this red decoration some secret significance. He took off his cap, looked at the decoration, then at the poppy flowers. The flowers were a much brighter red.

"It is vanquishing," murmured the patient; "but we shall see."

He descended the steps. Having glanced around and not observed the attendant behind him, he stepped over the flower bed and stretched out his hand toward the poppy plant; but he had not yet decided to break it off. He felt a fever and a pain in his outstretched hand, and later in his whole body, as if a strong current of some mysterious power escaped from the red petals and penetrated his entire system. He moved nearer, and stretched out his hand to the flower itself; but the flower, it seemed to him, defended itself, discharging a poisonous and deadly breath. His head whirled; he made the last desperate effort and had caught its