The Implacable Hunter by Gerald Kersh

‘Lucky Lucius! He could not be in the hands of awiser or more discreet doctor than Mnesicles.’
    ‘A compliment from Diomed is a compliment indeed!’
    ‘No, no! Who knows when I may need a physician? In my profession one must look ahead. And to whom should I turn, in that case, but Mnesicles?’
    ‘I humbly admit,’ said this conceited little fellow, ‘that you might go farther and fare worse.’
    ‘So, in passing, it occurred to me to ask myself: “How can I be sure that Mnesicles will remain in good health here in Tarsus?” I asked myself this question purely for selfish considerations .’
    ‘I do not think I quite understand, my dear sir. My health is perfect, and I have no reason to leave this fair city.’
    ‘No chimera like the illusion of perfect health; and only the gods know where they will be tomorrow…. You see, if some distorted story of Jewish sorcery and Jewish poisoning began to be whispered in the market-place – well, you know how it is; two people attract a third, three is a crowd, a crowd becomes a mob, and then there is a riot. “Death to Parnach!” is as good a rabble-shout as any other. So a mob storms Parnach’s house, kills Parnach, rapes his women, and steals his money.’
    ‘Deplorable!’ said Mnesicles, pinching out the smoulder of a smile and looking grave.
    ‘I agree,’ I said, earnestly. ‘It is not that I care a curse for Parnach. But he is not a very rich man like you – he doesn’t deserve to be. So. Having rifled his house, the mob, still dissatisfied , turns on the houses of other Jews and generally unpopular characters, and the riot becomes general. Now I have only a handful of men with which to keep order in the city, and I’d find myself short-handed, you see. So that when – as somebody inevitably would – some trouble-maker shouted: “Mnesicles treated Lucius last!” the mob would turn its attention to you. A drunken mob is undiscriminating as fire or flood, you see; and your house is well worth looting.’
    Mnesicles said nothing. His face was grey. I went on: ‘A man as good as you cannot have many enemies, but what does a mob care about that? Even a man as wicked as Parnach must have some friends, and they have only to give a man with a loud voice a couple of silver coins to shout: “Mnesicles! Burn Mnesicles!” at a certain moment, and the mischief would be done. And, don’t you see, my hands being full, I shouldn’t be able to do much to protect you, my dear friend.’
    ‘But –’ Mnesicles began.
    ‘Of course, the mob might not burn you,’ I continued. ‘A mob is unpredictable. They might, for no apparent reason, suddenly decide – the gods forbid! – that you were their hero, their idol; in which case I’d give you about three years to live, with a constant and perfectly trustworthy bodyguard. But I want Mnesicles alive, as Mnesicles: the world needs Mnesicles. So I came to urge you to be absolutely discreet in the matter of this affair of Lucius’s so-called “curse”. Go out and about, denying any rumours that might have got loose. And don’t say too much against Paulus, because it happens that he is now a close friend of Soxias.’
    ‘I did not know this,’ Mnesicles said, biting his pale lips.
    ‘Last night Soxias gave him an emerald-studded goblet, and another priceless cup. But you would not be the kind of man who spreads malicious gossip! Otherwise, I shouldn’t be talking to you in friendship, and giving you valuable advice. It is true, as I have said, that my motives are partly selfish, but there you are. My opinion is – I was at Soxias’s house last night, you know – that Lucius is simply over-stimulated . Young Paulus was simply joking with him over the wine. Go to Lucius tonight, and I will wager any sum within reason that you will find him peacefully asleep, your wonderfully perceptive treatment having worked to perfection , as usual.’
    Armoured in his vanity, this Mnesicles was impervious toirony, but he