The Green Lamp

In London, the nights are always bustling and bright with lights. One night, after indulging in a lavish feast at a luxury restaurant, two middle-aged gentlemen emerged to see a tattered vagrant lying by the roadside. The vagrant, struggling to crawl towards the two well-dressed men, weakly pleaded, “Help me... I'm starving...”

One of the gentlemen, named Stephen, chuckled and whispered a mischievous idea into the ear of the stout gentleman beside him. “Hey, buddy, I've got a brilliant notion. You see, I've got plenty of money and I'm bored with everything I've tried. Let's make a game out of this man!”

Indeed, Stephen was a man of immense wealth, with assets worth over a hundred million. He was known for his extravagant lifestyle and his penchant for all sorts of adventures. Without waiting for the stout gentleman's response, Stephen eagerly hoisted the fainting vagrant onto a carriage and took him to a small inn.

Once the vagrant had his fill of food and drink at the inn, he began to recount his miserable tale to Stephen. His name was David, an orphan who had drifted to London, unable to find work and eventually collapsing from hunger. Little did David know that Stephen's so-called rescue was nothing more than a cruel prank, and Stephen was already gloating over his ingenious scheme.

Stephen patted David on the shoulder and proposed, “How about we make a deal? Starting tomorrow, I'll give you ten pounds a month. All you have to do is stay in the house and, from five in the evening to midnight, place a lit lamp with a green shade by the same window...”

David's eyes widened in astonishment as he looked at Stephen. Stephen took a sip of wine and continued, “That is, you must stay in the house with the light on for those seven hours every night, without talking to anyone. What do you say?”

David nodded eagerly, “I agree, I agree. If you're not joking, I'd even forget my own name. But, may I ask, how long will this comfortable life of mine last?” Stephen shrugged, “Hard to say, maybe a year, maybe a lifetime.”

Delighted, David exclaimed, “I hope it's a lifetime! But, if I may ask, what do you need this green lamp for?”

“It's a secret!” Stephen replied, “An absolute secret.” David nodded, “Alright, as long as you keep sending the money, I'll do as you say, and you can check on me anytime!” And so, a strange agreement was made, and the vagrant and the millionaire parted ways, each satisfied with the deal. Stephen rode away in his carriage.

Watching the carriage disappear, David muttered to himself, “Damn it! Either this man has gone mad, or I've had the most incredible stroke of luck! Such a generous gift, just for burning half a pint of lamp oil a day!”

The next evening, David indeed lit a soft green lamp by the window. That night, Stephen called the stout gentleman over, saying, “My dear fellow, if you're ever bored, come here for some amusement. Look at the fool behind that window, a cheap, installment-bought, long-term toy... I think he'll get so bored that he'll turn into a drunkard or go mad... but for my ten pounds a month, he has to wait, that's the kind of man he is!”

The stout gentleman shook his head at Stephen, “What fun is there in such a trick?” Stephen replied triumphantly, “A toy... a toy made of a living person, the finest delicacy!” With that, Stephen laughed heartily and left with the stout gentleman.

Poor David stayed in that house from then on, receiving ten pounds a month and lighting a green lamp on schedule, seemingly unable to do anything else.

Eight years passed in the blink of an eye. One night, a dirty old man was taken to the poorhouse hospital. He had broken his leg while descending the dark stairs of a slum, and his condition was dire as the complex fracture had severed his blood vessels.

After the doctor finished the surgery, he sent the frail old man back to his bed, where he quickly fell into a deep sleep. When the old man woke up, he found the same doctor who had operated on him sitting by his bedside.

The doctor said upon seeing the old man awake, “Fancy meeting you here again! Do you recognize me, Mr. Stephen? I'm David, the one who was supposed to keep watch by the lit green lamp for you.”

Stephen looked at the old man for a long while before muttering, “This is madness! How did this happen?” David replied, “Yes, tell me, what happened to you?” Stephen said painfully, “I went completely bankrupt... I've been a beggar for three years now. But what about you?”

“I've been lighting that lamp for years,” David said with a smile, “At first, out of sheer boredom, I found a bookshelf full of books in the house and started reading. One night, I stumbled upon an old anatomy book and was utterly fascinated. As soon as it was light, I went to the library to find out what one needs to study to become a doctor, only to receive a mocking response: ‘You need to study mathematics, biology, pharmacology, Latin, and so on.’ But I didn't pay attention to the ridicule...”

David paused, then continued, “One night when I returned home, I suddenly saw two figures outside my window, looking at the green lamp. I overheard one of them say contemptuously, ‘David—a real fool! He's still waiting for the miracle he was promised... But now I think it's a ridiculous game, not worth the expense.’ The man didn't realize I was right by the window, and that man was you.”

Stephen asked awkwardly, “And then?” David smiled and said, “I used the money you sent me to buy a lot of books, determined to learn, no matter what. When I heard your insulting words, I wanted to come out and punch you, but it was because of your generous prank that I became an educated man...”

Stephen hung his head in shame. David looked at the poor old man and said, “Later, a university student lived in the same suite with me. He felt sorry for me and helped me. A year later, I was admitted to medical school. As you can see, I've become a skilled professional...” David fell silent.

Stephen was shocked by David's story and said, “Actually, I haven't been watching by your window for a long time. Please forgive me for the harm I've caused you in the past.”

David patted the old man on the shoulder, took out his pocket watch, and said, “Ten o'clock, it's time for you to rest. Maybe in three weeks you can be discharged. Give me a call then, and I'll arrange a job for you at our clinic: registering patients' names.”