A PARISIAN TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 18, 30 April 1892, Page 447

A PARISIAN TRAGEDY.

A distinguished pulmonary specialist of London was lately consulted by a skeleton in appearance. After a careful examination the doctor said, • 1 can do nothing for you ; in a month you will be dead.’ With the calmness of despair the young man, aided by a servant, prepared to depart. As he was about to cross the threshold Dr. B. asked, ‘ Are you rich ?’ ‘ A millionaire,’ replied the wretched man. * Then order your coachman to drive you to the Victoria Station, start for Dover by the 11 o'clock train, take passage on a steamer for Marseilles, and thence by rail to Nice. For six months—should God spare your life—eat neither bread, nor fruit, nor meat, neither drink wine, but eat cress, and only cress. The cure is doubtful, but I offer it to a dying man.’

Six months later, a robust young man crossed the anteroom, where a number of patients were waiting, and entered the ottice of Dr. B. At the sight of the famous physician, he rushed up and embraced him. ‘ Are you crazy?’ asked the doctor. • No, no ; I am sane, but I realise that you have saved try life. Don’t you know me ? I am I’., the millionaire, whom you saved from an inevitable death by your wonderful treatment. My improvement was miraculous. I am now in excellent health ;’ and, to verify his remarks, he beat his chest with his fist.

• What !’ exclaimed the astonished physician, ‘ you are the man upon whom I experimented with cress?’ ‘Yes ; 1 am he,’ responded the young man.

The doctor signed to his assistant to retire, ami then quickly drawing a small revolver, he levelled it, and in an instant his patient fell dead at his feet.

Without a momeat’s delay he commenced to make a nosf mortem examination. When the police arrived he was caiefully examining the lungs of his victim with a microscope, and studying the effects of the ciessupon the diseased parts. To the officers of the law he said : ‘ I killed this man for an immediate autopsy, to discover a mystery which may be a boon to all mankind.’ This is how they write romance in France, and lay the scene in England.