Dirk's handsmoved strangely, as though they had nothing to do with his body, with amovement of their own.

"Will youtell her that if there is anyone else she wishes to see I will bring him? Ionly want her to be happy. "

The nurselooked at him with her calm, kind eyes, which had seen all the horror and painof the world, and yet, filled with the vision of a world without sin, remainedserene.

"I willtell her when she is a little calmer. "

Dirk, filledwith compassion, begged her to take the message at once.

"It maycure her. I beseech you to ask her now. "

With a faintsmile of pity, the nurse went back into the room. We heard her low voice, andthen, in a voice I did not recognise the answer:

"No. No.No. "

The nurse cameout again and shook her head.

"Was thatshe who spoke then?" I asked. "Her voice sounded so strange. "

"Itappears that her vocal cords have been burnt by the acid. "

戴尔克做了个很奇怪的手势，好象他的两只手同身体不发生关系，自己在挥动似的。

“你能不能告诉她，如果她想见什么人的话，我可以把那人带来？我只希望使她快活。”

护士用她那双宁静、慈祥的眼睛望着戴尔克，这双眼睛曾经看到过人世的一切恐怖和痛苦，但是因为那里面装的是一个没有罪恶的世界的幻景，所以她的目光是清澈的。

“等她心情平静一些的时候我会告诉她的。”

戴尔克心头充满了无限悲悯，请求她立刻把这句话说给她听。

“也许这会治好她的病的。我求求你现在就去问她吧。”

护士的脸上泛起一丝怜悯的笑容，走进病室。我们听到她低声说了两句什么，接着就是一个我辨认不出的声音在回答：

“不，不，不。”

护士走出来，摇了摇头。

“刚才是她在说话吗？”我问。“她的嗓音全变了。”

“她的声带似乎被酸液烧坏了。”