Mr. De Vere sprang to his assistance and Dr. Herschel administered a restorative, bidding him lie down for a few minutes, and his order was obeyed with child-like confidence.
“Now,” resumed the doctor, when the excitement had somewhat subsided, “my plan is this: to at once remove our young friend to Shushan—accommodations there are meager, but this is easily and quickly remedied, and I, myself, will remain with him until he is fully under the application of my treatment.”
“All alone in that detestable wilderness!” Mr. De Vere exclaimed.
“No, my dear sir, very soon he will be joined by another man (also a patient), and they can mutually assist each other.”
“God be merciful!” Mr. Genung moaned.
“Their home,” the doctor continued, “shall be light, airy and attractive, the library complete. I assure you that nothing necessary for their comfort will be omitted. Barren and forbidding as that spot seems, it contains much that is interesting, and best of all, that for which the brightest minds of all ages have sought—A CURE FOR LEPROSY!”
“How long do you think this stupor will last, Doctor?” asked Mr. De Vere.
“I cannot say, but asleep or awake, we must make arrangements for his removal this night. You understand that his isolation is to be complete?”
“Not even communication by telephone?”
“Even that. Were it known that Hernando has leprosy, complications might arise. Fearful as the disease is, it is not contagious, but it would be a difficult matter to convince the laity that contagion and infection are not synonymous. Am I to depend on your co-operation?”