第13部分(第3/8 頁)

n　be　on　crutches。〃

〃For　six　months　and　then　have　an　operation？〃

〃That　is　the　safe　way。　The　foreign　bodies　must　be　allowed　to　encyst　and　the　synovial　fluid　will　re…form。　Then　it　will　be　safe　to　open　up　the　knee。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　yourself　I　will　have　to　wait　that　long？〃

〃That　is　the　safe　way。〃

〃Who　is　that　first　captain？〃

〃He　is　a　very　excellent　surgeon　of　Milan。〃

〃He's　a　first　captain；　isn't　he？〃

〃Yes；　but　he　is　an　excellent　surgeon。〃

〃I　don't　want　my　leg　fooled　with　by　a　first　captain。　If　he　was　any　good　he　would　be　made　a　major。　I　know　what　a　first　captain　is；　doctor。〃

〃He　is　an　excellent　surgeon　and　I　would　rather　have　his　judgment　than　any　surgeon　I　know。〃

〃Could　another　surgeon　see　it？〃

〃Certainly　if　you　wish。　But　I　would　take　Dr。　Varella's　opinion　myself。〃

〃Could　you　ask　another　surgeon　to　e　and　see　it？〃

〃I　will　ask　Valentini　to　e。〃

〃Who　is　he？〃

〃He　is　a　surgeon　of　the　Ospedale　Maggiore。〃

〃Good。　I　appreciate　it　very　much。　You　understand；　doctor；　I　couldn't　stay　in　bed　six　months。〃

〃You　would　not　be　in　bed。　You　would　first　take　a　sun　cure。　Then　you　could　have　light　exercise。　Then　when　it　was　encysted　we　would　operate。〃

〃But　I　can't　wait　six　months。〃

The　doctor　spread　his　delicate　fingers　on　the　cap　he　held　and　smiled。　〃You　are　in　such　a　hurry　to　get　back　to　the　front？〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃It　is　very　beautiful；〃　he　said。　〃Yo