Elephant Man - Christine Sparks [37]
Mothershead gaped. “Good Lord, Mr. Treves.”
“We’ve made tremendous strides today, Mothershead,” he told her exuberantly. “He listens and repeats with great attention, and this certainly isn’t easy for him.”
She had recovered her composure and confronted him severely.
“Parrots can do as much, Mr. Treves. It’s all very nice, but I don’t see the point. You know they won’t let him stay here.”
Treves lowered his voice and edged her firmly to the door.
“I’m sure that if Mr. Merrick made a good impression on the hospital committee they’d see that he’s the exception to their rule,” he said. He rushed on as she opened her mouth. “Now I’m not expecting miracles. I’m not saying He’ll be able to read or write, but I do think I can get him to think for himself. I’m going to arrange things with Carr-Gomm right now.”
He looked back at Merrick and raised his voice. “That was very good John, very good. That’s all for today. We shall do some more tomorrow. Mothershead?” he stood back to allow her to put the tray down by the Elephant Man. “I’ll see you soon, John.”
It was easy enough, he thought as he descended the stairs, to say he was going to “arrange things with Carr-Gomm.” He knew, and doubtless by now Mothershead also knew that the Chairman was not really on his side. He had been given time, but only time to get Merrick out of the building. As for the Hospital Committee—Treves had for them the contempt that a medical man feels for those who are not medically qualified, but who yet have the power to overrule him. The Committee was formed of “administrators,” businessmen with a talent for the affairs of the world, or as Treves would have put it, ignoramuses. The only one he had the slightest respect for was Carr-Gomm himself, and he knew how hard it was to make an impression on that wily brain.
The Chairman’s first words when Treves had seated himself, confirmed his fears.
“Have you contacted the British Home and the Royal Hospital?”
“Ah—no, sir. I had planned to see them later today.”
“Good. How is the patient?”
“He’s doing very well. In fact that’s why I came to see you. I think that if I were to present Mr. Merrick to the Hospital Committee, then they would have a chance to see for themselves not only the extraordinary nature of the disease, but of the man as well. If the Committee had a chance to speak with him, hear him say a few words for himself, I’m sure they would see him as a patient, rather than as a violation of the rules.”
“A few words?” Carr-Gomm looked at him sharply. “I thought he was imbecile?”
“Well, sir, perhaps I should explain …”
“I really don’t think that’s necessary, Treves. I’m quite sure the Committee will be able to make an equitable decision on the merits of the case, such as they are.” He gave a faint dismissive accent to the last four words.
“I don’t agree,” Treves persisted. “No one can make a reasonable decision about this man’s future without at least meeting him. No doctor would presume to diagnose a patient he had never met.”
“No, Treves. It’s out of the question.” Carr-Gomm’s voice took on the deadly geniality that meant his mind had closed. “Now if it was up to me, I’d say, ‘Certainly, let’s meet the fellow, by all means.’ I’m sorry, I simply can’t speak for the other members of the Committee.”
“Then will you meet him, as a representative of the Committee?”
Carr-Gomm gave him a tired look. “Mr. Treves, it’s out of the question. I want to hear as soon as possible what the other hospitals can do. I’m sorry.”
There was no arguing with that face with its careful look of bland kindliness. Carr-Gomm’s tone was final, his attitude of leaning back in his chair was filled with expectation of Treves’ immediate departure. Treves got out of the room as civilly as he could, but it was hard when his temper was beginning to flicker.
He didn’t know what he’d expected to hear from Carr-Gomm. Certainly not sympathetic partisanship. Carr-Gomm had lived too long for that, and seen too much. It was not in his nature to come down firmly on anybody’s side. But reason, justice, a willingness