第67章死亡诊断安布（1）
ADiagnosisofDeath
安布罗斯·比尔斯AmbroseBierce
安布罗斯·比尔斯（AmbroseBierce，1842—1914），美国恐怖、灵异小说家，生于俄亥俄州梅格斯县的一个贫苦农民家庭。参加过南北战争，这段不平凡的经历为他后来的文学创作打下了坚实的基础。战争结束后，他开始了一个编辑兼作家的忙碌生涯。他的人生观比较悲观，早期的作品主要是随笔和讽刺性短诗，也包括一些小说，被人们称为“辛辣比尔斯”。
"Iamnotsosuperstitiousassomeofyourphysiofsce，asyouarepleasedtobecalled，"saidHawver，replyingtoanathathadnotbee;Someofyou—onlyafew，Ifess—believeialityofthesoul，andinapparitionswhichyouhaveytocallghosts。Igohanathattheliviimesseeheyarenot，buthavebeeheyhavelivedsolong，perhapssoiohavelefttheirimpressaboutthem。Ikone'semaybesoaffee'spersonalityastoyield，longafterward，animageofone'sselftotheeyesofalesstheimpressiyhasthtkiyasthepergeyeshavethtkindofeyes—mine，forexample。"
"Yes，therightkindofeyes，gsensationstkindofbrains，"saidDr。Frayley，smiling。
"Thankyou；oohaveaioisaboutthereplythatIsupposedyouwouldhavethecivilitytomake。"
"Pardoyousaythatyouknow。Thatisagooddealtosay，don'tyouthink？Perhapsyouwillnotmiroubleofsayinghowyoulear;
"Youwillhallu，"Hawversaid，"butthatdoes;Ahestory。
"LastsummerIwent，asyouknow，topassthehotweathertermiowherelativeatwhosehouseIhadiaywasill，soIsoughtotherquarters。AftersomedifficultyIsurentingavatdwellingthathadbeenoccupiedbyaricdoctorwiththename，whohadgoneawayyearsbefore，noonekeve。Hehadbuiltthehousehimselfandhadlivedinitwithaforabouttenyears。Hispraeververyexteerafewyearsbeeirely。Notonlyso，buthehadwithdrawaltogetherfromsociallifeandbeearecluse。Iwastoldbythevillagedoctor，abouttheohwhomheheldaions，thatdurihehaddevotedhimselftoasiudy，theresultofwhichhehadexpoundedinabookthatdidselftotheapprovalofhisprofessiohren，who，indeed，sideredhimirelysaseenthebookandowrecallthetitleofit，butIamtoldthatitexpouherstartlingtheory。Heheldthatitossibleintheanyapersonioforecasthisdeathwithpre，severalmonthsiheeve，Ithieenmonths。Therewerelocaltalesofhishaviedhispnosis，orperhapsyouwouldsaydiagnosis；anditwassaidthatiahepersonwhosefriendshehadwarnedhaddiedsuddeedtime，andfromnoassignablecause。Allthis，however，hasnothingtodowithwhatIhavetotell；Ithoughtitmightamuseaphysi。
"Thehousewasfurashehadlivedinit。Itwasarathergloomydwellingforonewhowasherareorastudent，andIthihingofitscharae—perhapssomeofitsformerot'scharacter；foralwaysIfeltiainmelancholythatwasnotinmynaturaldisposition，nor，Ithioloneliness。Ihadhatsleptinthehouse，butIhavealwaysbeen，asyouknow，ratherfondofmyowy，beingmuchaddictedt，thoughlittletostudy。Whateverwasthecause，theeffectwasdejedasenseofimpehiseannering'sstudy，althoughthatroomwasthelightestandmostairyihedoctor'slife-sizeportraitinoilhunginthatroom，aelytodomiherewasnothingunusualiure；themalyrathergoodlooking，aboutfiftyyearsold，withiron-greyhair，asmooth-shavenfaddark，seriouseyes。Somethiurealwaysdrewaention。Theman'sappearancebecamefamiliartome，a;hau;me。
"OneeveningIassingthroughthisroomtomybedroom，—thereisnogasinMeridian。Istoppedasusualbeforetheportrait，whichseemedinthelamplighttohaveanewexpression，noteasilydistinny。Itididnotdisturbme。Imovedthelampfromoheotheraheeffectsofthealteredlight。Whilesoeaurnround。AsIdidsoIsawamanmovingacrosstheroomdiree！AssoonasheearenoughforthelamplighttoillumihefaceIsawthatitwasDr。Manneriwasasiftheportrait>
"'Ibegyourpardon，'Isaid，somewhatcoldly，'butifyouknockedIdidnothear。'
"Hepassedme，withinanarm'slength，liftedhisrightfer，asinwarning，andwithoutawordwentonoutoftheroom，thoughIobservedhisexithanIhadobservedhisentrance。
"Ofcourse，IellyouthatthisillcallahalluandIapparition。Thatroomhadonlytwodoors，ofwhiewaslocked；theotherledintoabedroom，fromwhichtherewas。Myfeelihisisnotanimportantpartofthei。
"Doubtlessthisseemstoyouaveryonplace'ghoststory'—orutheregularlineslaiddowersoftheart。IfthatweresoIshouldedit，everue。ThemanwashimtodayinU。Hepassedmeinacrowd。"