, 1876-07-29
WAS IT WORTH A LEG?

d surgeon In Boulognc, Of the uame Of EtIcnne
Lefcbvrc7 received letter, not bearing any
signature. requesting him to repair on the fol.
lowing day to q country-house which was stu
ated on the road leading TO Calais, md 70 bring
along such instruments ~ would be required
for performing m operation Lefebvrc w2s at
that period well known as \ distinguished and
successful operator; 60 much 10, Indeed, that
he WIS not uufrequentlv sent for from great
distances. He had served for 4 considerable
time III tho navy, and hls manners had, there
fore, acquired certain degree Of bluntness;
but, when you once Became acquainted with
him, you could not help liking him for the
natural aud unaffected goodness Of his heart
lie was naturally somewhat surprised at this
anonymous communication; for, although the
time and place were, as already stated, nlcn+
toned with great ulnutenese, there was no
clew Afforded by which the writer could be tden-
titled. lie, therefore, came to the conclusion
that some OF his jocular frcuds were MakinE
fun Of him aud hu did not keep the appoint
mcnt.
aimilar summons, but couclcd Id more pressing
terms than tho first, ami he waB informed thnt
as = O'clock in tlse morning : earrings would be
sent to bring him 70 the PLACE where he was
rlage drove up 10 his door. The doctor no Ion
ger made any hesitation, but nt ouce took his
seas m A' saFn 81 e. A. o.a1 ns was Rethg h be-
nan @ appeared elther ssn not to pas know, 'os os
dII not choose TO tsll; but, as he spokc In En-
E3!s'., Lsfeovrs eaid 70 hiaiselt "soi + au En-
accordingly prepared himself for any exhibition
of ecccnt1city Oh the part Of one VI TINT nation
which even now "a 50 little understood by Con-
t!ncntAls. at length the carr1nge stopped, and
the ff1lstNt hNk pnEI1 fntN Tho 60SIaA
He was received a. the entrance by flnc-
looking young nlan Of about Is years OF age,
who requested him to walk Into q largc and
showed hin, to be au Engllshmau. Thc follow
lug conversation then cnsucd between them.
You have sent for INC, said the doctor.
& " am very much obliged 70 sou for, the
Joined tic :Engllshmau. Be 81 Food ns TO seat
yoursclf at taGlc, where you will lind cllorolnte
coffee, or wine, in case you would like to par
t;a tako ct anything before commencing tho opera.
But 1rst chow nc tho patient. wish to
satisfy myself that an operation Is absolutely
III Is sneccssary, Monsieur Lcfcbvrc; pray bc
seated. l have cnsire confidence In you; only
listen to me: Here ls purse containing 1UO
gutueas, which offer you rs fee for the oper-
atton you are asked to perforul, no matter what
tue l result my be: II caso Of your refusing
compliance With my request, you sec this pistol.
hope for salvation, Will blow your bratns out.n
"sir, am not TO DO deferred from doing
bs wSst dU ysa dsre " ~ %h s 1S s
pertea to lOl"
..You must cut my right leg on"
~, with ali my heart, answered the surgeon.
of those mad English; "anl your haa,i. also,
II necessary Or desirable. However, unless All
greatly mistaken. your lcg is perfectly sound.
saw you walk down stAlrs with the greatest
eelyty. Whas can bc the mattcr With your
",Nothing; but It must come otl."
= Sir, you aru mad"
"That ,ts no coueern of yours, Monsieur
"What harm can that handsome limb hsyc
donel"
,,s nNone - at al,; sti,l you must make up your
- Sir, hAy8 uu acquaintance witt. yOl; give
me SONS proof that you are In sound ,niAd,"
naturally aeuiandcd The Doctor.
"Will you consent to NY wlales, Monsieur
"As soon a. you can assign my adequate or
iion.n
III cannot at present enter into any explana.
VII te &c. IT, sa W. 3 e. so ~
that my re1snns for my present secmlngly-cx.
tFeyagant conluc: aro ,ndst pure, manly, and
noble, aud even ratl0Mal.o
!" 1t is autu impossible for me-" rcmonstrated
unns, placo of residence, position and famlly.'
"fou shall he nlade acquuintcd with all these
particulars at some future titne but not at pres.
cut. beg YOU to consider me i nun Of holior,n
A nan Of honor does not utter unjustIdablo
threats against Its Doctor. hayu 10 perform
duty even towards you, who are stranger 10
me. Ny reasons for refusing u srrede to your
abeurd request are, as you must admit, sound
mud Just. Du you Wish to be the murderer Of
IN llnoeent father ot q largo fainilyi'
We'll, Monsieur Leiebvre,h replied the
Engltshlnan, tak,ng up tho pistol, II will not
hro upon you, a,.u yet will compel you to cut
off this ley: What you refuse 10 do TO obligu
INT, through love Of gain or fear ot bullet, you
shall .lu Through humanity"
'1low St, sirit'
VI intend to shatter my leg With this pistol,
aud TINT. too, before your eyes" answered tho
Englisl1au1i, who accordingly seated himself,
cooked the pistol, aud tllcu look deliberate aiM
ut Ills knec-Jont,
Lcfebyro rushed forward 10 prevent him, but
the Englshuan c0olly exclaimed:
" Do nut GONE near; II you l0, fire. Now
only ansH er tie thIs question: DO you Wish 10
prulnns NY suffering neelesslyt'
"Slr, yo,l arc mud" answered the poesor III
to do na y0tt wtsh.n
Everything wAs ready fot the oprrtion. As
S01u uS thu hurnguN tuuk III hfS iuStrutNeutX