Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-16


matter you have related mean the only
thing which may not be accounted for
naturally-is what YOU have told me about
| the flowers. Now, think that when you
opened the door a current of air, especially
if one of the windows wasup, might explain
the sound you heard"
"a window was open" returned Mr.
Adrian ''but you surely give me credit
for the ability to distinguish between the
sound of rush of wind and human
sighp'
SAT all events" suggested the Vicar in
modifying tone, might not an air blowing
from the window account for the disturb
ance of the flowers ?"
/ No." was the curt reply; and then Mr..
| Adrian continued: al know the difference
between wind-scattered flowers and flowers
that have been tenderly handled, and per-
| chance caressedp' Mr.. Charlton glanced
at the speaker furtively, and again bent
| his eyes upon the floor. He was silent, but
his hosts words had evidently impressed
him deeply.
"What is your opinion regarding what
I have told you?' asked Mr.. Adrian. my
reason for taking you into my confidence
was that | might ask your advice"
"You are imposing difficult and some
what delicate task upon me" replied the
Vicar.
"Give me your candid opinion" said
Mr.. Adrian; [ start tomorrow on my
search for the lady who has thus mysteri-
ously manifested herself do YOU think
that my difficulty in finding her will be
great"
{. For our old friendships sake, no less
than because | think it my duty, | shall
tell you what | think, even at the risk Of
offending you"
"That is what / wish; and do not fear
that shall take offense, provided you tell
me the truth"
Every good. You must pardon me,
then, if tell you that | believe you to be
laboring under an hallucination, which is
doubtless due not only to your solitary
mode of life, but to the momentous step
which you lately have been contemplate
ing, and which has naturally been occupy
ing much of your thoughts"
In other words" observed Mr. Adrian,
coolly, "you think that / am not per-
fectly sane"
Not precisely that" said the Vicar,
| withdrawing his eyes from the host, and
|
misapprehend my meaning. On general
matters, | am confident that you are as
| sane as am, but you must excuse me for
thinking that on one point-I refer to the
fair sex-you are at present, perhaps, just
a little-not as sensible, | might say, as
| could be wished"
! Mr. Adrian inclined his head and smiled
sardonically; but the Vicar was not look
ing at him, and proceeded:
"You have asked my advice, and you
shall have it. No harm has occurred yet,
but such fancies as those you have narrated
to me, in my opinion, indicate some degree
of weakness in the constitution, and one
hallucination, | understand, often leads to
another. So, ere the matter goes any fur
Their, strongly recommend you to consult
some eminent specialist, who will doubt
less benefit you by his advice"
In other words, you advise me to go to
mad DOCTOR"
Not exactly that. But there are GER
tain physicians who have devoted their
| lives to mental ailments and peeuliarities,
and you might derive benefit from their
advice and treatment"
"May | ask if you have noticed any
other peculiarities besides that to which
you have already alluded?"
The Vicar glanced involuntarily at the
wig, and then replied in hesitating fash
| ion:
81 have observed nothing unconnected
| with the matter which is at present SO
greatly concerning you, which could pos
sibly call for any remark"
81 am obliged to you. And to prove
| that | have taken in good part what you
have said, l intend to follow your advice,
| told you that intended to leave this
tomorrow, and | shall now go straight to
Paris and consult Dr. Lionnet"
Mr.. Charlton thought that This an
nouncement was only an additional proof
of his patrons eccentricity, for why, he
asked himself, should Mr.. Adrian go to
Paris, seeing that there were several emf
nent specialists close at hand in London?
OF course, it cannot be pleasant thing
TO converse with one who has the impress
sion that your mind is affected, as little
that is said in these circumstances is likely
to influence the nearer favorably So Mr..
| Adrian-who was never saner in his life
under the plea of his early departure on
the morrow, gave his guest hint that he
would like him to leave, and Mr. Charlton
accordingly went home at an unusually
early hour.
Next day Mr. Adrian carried out the in
tention which he had stated to Mr.. Charl-
ton, and after spending several hours in
town he left for Paris on the night mail
He had appeared to acquiesce very readily
in the Wears suggestion, but the reasons
which prompted him to go to Paris were
quite unconnected with Mr.. Charlton's
opinions. Mr.. Adrian knew that the
celebrated French physician had carried
his researches into many strange channels
connected with the human mind, so he
hoped that DIR. Lionnet might a, least be
able to furnish him with some explanation
of the phenomena that had been manifested
to himself, if not to provide him with some
clue that would aid him in his search
| Another cause-even more potent than the
other-that brought Mr. Adrian to Paris
was the fact that the scenes with which
| his dreams had familiarized him had APP
parently been located in France, and it was
| in that country he believed he would find
| the object Of his affections.
| PART ".
Mr.. Adrian was an accomplished lin
| gust, and had no difficulty in explaining
his case tc the great physician in fluent and
idiomatic French. The doctor, however,
who knew little English, on discovering
the nationality of his patient, resolved to
speak to him in his own language, that
there might be no possibility of being mis-
understood.
DR.. Lionnet, on hearing Mr.. Adrian's
story, was evidently of the same opinion as
Mr.. Charlton, for, spanning Mr.. Adrian's
head with two fingers he asked him if he
ever felt sensation Of tightness at the
places indicated. Then, before his patient
hadtime to reply, the physician exclaimed
in surprise, Why, monsieur wears veegw
| So perfect was the deception that it had
escaped the physicians notice until by the
pressure of his fingers he felt the scalp
slipping on Mr.. Adrian's smooth Uranium.
Mr.. Adrian assented, and in reply to the
question, GLOW long has monsieur worn
the veeg?" he replied, about month"
"Ahw exclaimed the doctor signifi-
cantly, while he kept his fingers still
spanning Mr.. Adrian's head, "and proba-
bly, this is the first veeg monsieur has ever
worn, though he has been belt for years.
Mr.. Adrian was forced to admit the
| truth of the conjecture