The St. Mary banner., 1906-07-14
THE MAN !
WHO OWNED He !
WAS A FOOL. !

DIR. Thevenet. a distinguished sur
Eeon at Calais, one day received
note without signature, requesting hin
to repair to hotel not far on, VIII
such instruments as were neceSsar.
for an amputation. Thevenet wa:
somewhat surprised at the manner
of the invitation, but concluding tna
It was the work Of some wag, paid nc
regard to it. Three days after. ne
received a second invitation still more
pressing, and containing the informa
tfon that the next day at O'Clock
carriage would stop before his mouse
In order to convey.
Thevenet resolved to let the affair
take it's course, and when, on the fol
lowing day, at the striking OF the
clock, an elegant carriage stopped be
fore the door. he seated himself IN 1t,
and asked the driver to whom he was
to carry him. The driver replied in
English:
''What I do not know cannot tell
At length the carriage stopped be-
fore the door of the hotel. A hand
some young man, of about % years OF
age, received the surgeon at the door,
and conducted him upstairs into a
large chamber, where the following
conversation took place:
Thevenet-"YOu have sent for me?"
Englishman-"I am much obliged
20 you for the trouble you have taken
to visit me- Here is coffee, chocolate
o. wine, if you would take anything
before the operation"
Thev.-"Show me the patient, sir;
Z must first ascertain whether the in
jury is such as to render an amputa-
tfon necessary"
Eng.-'It is necessary. Doctor. seat
yourself; have perfect confidence in
you. Listen to me. Here is purse
Of one hundred guineas; this is the
pay you will receive for the operation.
II done successfully, it is yours. Should
you refuse to comply with my wishes.
see, here is loaded pistol. You are
In my power; l will shoot you
Thev-"Sir, am not afraid Of your
pistols. But what is your particular
0OSACs Gil Auc WlIHOuL pl CdAUlC.
Eng-"You must cut off my right
leg"
Thev.-"With all my heart; and, if
you please, your head, too. But the
leg is sound. You sprang upstairs just
now with the agility of a dancing mas
ter. What ails your leg?'
Nothing. l only want it off,
Thev.-"Sir, you are a fool"
= Eng.-"Why does that trouble you,
Thevenet?"
Thev.-"What sin has the leg COM
mitted?"
Eng.-"None; but are you ready to
take it off,"
Thev.-"Sir, do not know. Bring
me evidence that you are sound of
mind
Eng.-"Will you comply with my re-
quest?"
Thev.-"Yes, sir, so soon as you give
me sufficient reasons for such mutila-
tion of yourself"
Eng.-I cannot tell you the truth,
perhaps, for some years; but | will
lay wager that after a certain time
you shall understand that my reasons
are most noble-that my happiness,
my very existence, depends upon my
being freed from this Leg
Thev.-"Sir, l lay no wagers. Tell
me your name, residence, family and
occupation"
Eng.-"You shall know all that here
Affor foEn
able man."
THEW cannot. A man of honor
does not threaten his physician with
pistols. l have duties toward you
as a stranger. | will not mutilate
you. If you wish to be the murderer
Of guiltless father of family, then
shoot"
Eng.-"Well, Mr.. Thevenet, will
not shoot you; but l will force you
to take my leg off, What you will not
do for the love of money, nor the
fear of bullet, you shall do for COM
passion"
Thev.-"And how so?"
Eng.-'T will break my leg by dis
charging my pistols, and here before
your eyes"
The Englishman seated himself and
placed the muzzle of the pistol close
to his knee. Thevenet was on the |
point of springing to prevent him. but
he exclaimed:
"Stir not, or fire! Vow" said he.
"wll you increase and icngthen out
my pains for nothing?"
"YOu are a fool says The suct. ;