is attacked。 The divine spark； the transitory intelligence which holds
the organism together； which is the source of the will； the
inspiration of life； has ceased to regulate the daily phenomena of the
mechanism and the functions of every organ； thence arise all the
complications which my learned colleague has so thoroughly
appreciated。 The epigastric region does not affect the brain but the
brain affects the epigastric region。 No；〃 he went on； vigorously
slapping his chest； 〃no； I am not a stomach in the form of a man。 No；
everything does not lie there。 I do not feel that I have the courage
to say that if the epigastric region is in good order； everything else
is in a like condition
〃We cannot trace；〃 he went on more mildly； 〃to one physical cause the
serious disturbances that supervene in this or that subject which has
been dangerously attacked； nor submit them to a uniform treatment。 No
one man is like another。 We have each peculiar organs； differently
affected； diversely nourished； adapted to perform different functions；
and to induce a condition necessary to the accomplishment of an order
of things which is unknown to us。 The sublime will has so wrought that
a little portion of the great All is set within us to sustain the
phenomena of living； in every man it formulates itself distinctly；
making each； to all appearance； a separate individual； yet in one
point co…existent with the infinite cause。 So we ought to make a
separate study of each subject； discover all about it； find out in
what its life consists； and wherein its power lies。 From the softness
of a wet sponge to the hardness of pumice…stone there are infinite
fine degrees of difference。 Man is just like that。 Between the sponge…
like organizations of the lymphatic and the vigorous iron muscles of
such men as are destined for a long life； what a margin for errors for
the single inflexible system of a lowering treatment to commit； a
system that reduces the capacities of the human frame； which you
always conclude have been over…excited。 Let us look for the origin of
the disease in the mental and not in the physical viscera。 A doctor is
an inspired being； endowed by God with a special giftthe power to
read the secrets of vitality； just as the prophet has received the
eyes that foresee the future； the poet his faculty of evoking nature；
and the musician the power of arranging sounds in an harmonious order
that is possibly a copy of an ideal harmony on high。〃
〃There is his everlasting system of medicine； arbitrary； monarchical；
and pious；〃 muttered Brisset。
〃Gentlemen；〃 Maugredie broke in hastily； to distract attention from
Brisset's comment； 〃don't let us lose sight of the patient。〃
〃What is the good of science？〃 Raphael moaned。 〃Here is my recovery
halting between a string of beads and a rosary of leeches； between
Dupuytren's bistoury and Prince Hohenlohe's prayer。 There is Maugredie
suspending his judgment on the line that divides facts from words；
mind from matter。 Man's 'it is；' and 'it is not；' is always on my
track； it is the Carymary Carymara of Rabelais for evermore： my
disorder is spiritual； Carymary； or material； Carymara。 Shall I live？
They have no idea。 Planchette was more straightforward with me； at any
rate； when he said； 'I do not know。' 〃
Just then Valentin heard Maugredie's voice。
〃The patient suffers from monomania； very good； I am quite of that
opinion；〃 he said； 〃but he has two hundred thousand a year；
monomaniacs of that kind are very uncommon。 As for knowing whether his
epigastric region has affected his brain； or his brain his epigastric
region； we shall find that out； perhaps； whenever he dies。 But to
resume。 There is no disputing the fact that he is ill； some sort of
treatment he must have。 Let us leave theories alone； and put leeches
on him； to counteract the nervous and intestinal irritation； as to the
existence of which we all agree； and let us send him to drink the
waters； in that way we shall act on both systems at once。 If there
really is tubercular disease； we can hardly expect to save his life；
so that〃
Raphael abruptly left the passage； and went back to his armchair。 The
four doctors very soon came out of the study； Horace was the
spokesman。
〃These gentlemen；〃 he told him； 〃have unanimously agreed that leeches
must be applied to the stomach at once； and that both physical and
moral treatment are imperatively needed。 In the first place； a
carefully prescribed rule of diet； so as to soothe the internal
irritation〃here Brisset signified his approval； 〃and in the second；
a hygienic regimen； to set your general condition right。 We all；
therefore； recommend you to go to take the waters in Aix in Savoy； or；
if you like it better； at Mont Dore in Auvergne； the air and the
situation are both pleasanter in Savoy than in the Cantal； but you
will consult your own taste。〃
Here it was Cameristus who nodded assent。
〃These gentlemen；〃 Bianchon continued； 〃having recognized a slight
affection of the respiratory organs； are agreed as to the utility of
the previous course of treatment that I have prescribed。 They think
that there will be no difficulty about restoring you to health； and
that everything depends upon a wise and alternate employment of these
various means。 And〃
〃And that is the cause of the milk in the cocoanut；〃 said Raphael；
with a smile； as he led Horace into his study to pay the fees for this
useless consultation。
〃Their conclusions are logical；〃 the young doctor replied。 〃Cameristus
feels； Brisset examines； Maugredie doubts。 Has not man a soul； a body；
and an intelligence？ One of these three elemental constituents always
influences us more or less strongly； there will always be the personal
element in human science。 Believe me； Raphael； we effect no cures； we
only assist them。 Another systemthe use of mild remedies while
Nature exerts her powerslies between the extremes of theory of
Brisset and Cameristus； but one ought to have known the patient for
some ten years or so to obtain a good result on these lines。 Negation
lies at the back of all medicine； as in every other science。 So
endeavor to live wholesomely； try a trip to Savoy； the best course is；
and always will be； to trust to Nature。〃
It was a month later； on a fine summer…like evening； that several
people； who were taking the waters at Aix； returned from the promenade
and met together in the salons of the Club。 Raphael remained alone by
a window for a long time。 His back was turned upon the gathering； and
he himself was deep in those involuntary musings in which thoughts
arise in succession and fade away； shaping themselves indistinctly；
passing over us like thin； almost colorless clouds。 Melancholy is
sweet to us then； and delight is shadowy； for the soul is half asleep。
Valentin gave himself up to this life of sensations； he was steeping
himself in the warm； soft twilight； enjoying the pure air with the
scent of the hills in it； happy in that he felt no pain； and had
tranquilized his threatening Magic Skin at last。 It grew cooler as the
red glow of the sunset faded on the mountain peaks； he shut the window
and left his place。
〃Will you be so kind as not to close the windows； sir？〃 said an old
lady； 〃we are being stifled〃
The peculiarly sharp and jarring tones in which the phrase was uttered
grated on Raphael's ears； it fell on them like an indiscreet remark
let slip by some man in whose friendship we would fain believe； a word
which reveals unsuspected depths of selfishness and destroys some
pleasing sentimental illusion of ours。 The Marquis glanced； with the
cool inscrutable expression of a diplomatist； at the old lady； called
a servant； and； when he came； curtly bade him：
〃Open that window。〃
Great surprise was clearly expressed on all faces at the words。 The
whole roomful began to whisper to each other； and turned their eyes
upon the invalid； as though he had given some serious offence。
Raphael； who had never quite managed to rid himself of the bashfulness
of his early youth； felt a momentary confusion； then he shook off his
torpor； exerted his faculties； and asked himself the meaning of this
strange scene。
A sudden and rapid impulse quickened his brain； the past weeks
appeared before him in a clear and definite vision； the reasons for
the feelings he inspired in others stood out for him in relief； like
the veins of some corpse which a naturalist； by some cunningly
contrived injection； has colored so as to show their least
ramifications。
He discerned himself in this fleeting picture； he followed out his own
life in it； thought by thought； day after day。 He saw himself； not
without astonishment； an absent gloomy figure in the midst of these
lively folk； always musing over his own fate； always absorbed by his
own sufferings； seemingly impatient of the most harmless chat。 He saw
how he had shunned the ephemeral intimacies that travelers are so
ready to establishno doubt because they feel sure of never meeting
each other againand how he had taken little heed of those about him。
He saw himself like the rocks without； unmoved by the caresses or the
stormy surgings of the waves。
Then； by a gift of insight seldom