Page:The world set free.djvu/278

 "You put it boldly," said Fowler.

Karenin laughed cheerfully at his caution... "When," asked Karenin suddenly, "when will you operate?"

"The day after to-morrow," said Fowler. "For a day I want you to drink and eat as I shall prescribe. And you may think and talk as you please."

"I should like to see this place."

"You shall go through it this afternoon. I will have two men carry you in a litter. And to-morrow you shall lie out upon the terrace. Our mountains here are the most beautiful in the world"

The next morning Karenin got up early and watched the sun rise over the mountains, and breakfasted lightly, and then young Gardener, his secretary, came to consult him upon the spending of his day. Would he care to see people? Or was this gnawing pain within him too much to permit him to do that.

"I'd like to talk," said Karenin. "There must be all sorts of lively-minded people here. Let them come and gossip with me. It will distract me—and I can't tell you how interesting it makes everything that is going on to have seen the dawn of one's own last day."

"Your last day!"