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us of demoniacal possession；well； monsieur； I affirm that nothing
but such possession can explain the condition of my child。 As a
somnambulist she has never been able to tell us the cause of her
sufferings； she has never perceived it； and all the remedies she has
proposed when in that state； though carefully carried out； have done
her no good。 For instance； she wished to be wrapped in the carcass of
a freshly killed pig； then she ordered us to run the sharp points of
ret…hot magnets into her legs； and to put hot sealing…wax on her
spine〃
Godefroid looked at him in amazement。
〃And then！ what endless other troubles； monsieur！ her teeth fell out；
she became deaf； then dumb； and then； after six months of absolute
dumbness； utter deafness； speech and hearing have returned to her！ She
recovered； just as capriciously as she had lost； the use of her hands。
But her feet have continued in the same hapless condition for the last
seven years。 She has shown marked and well…characterized symptoms of
hydrophobia。 Not only does the sight of water； the sound of water； the
presence of a glass or a cup fling her at times into a state of fury；
but she barks like a dog； that melancholy bark； or rather howl； a dog
utters when he hears an organ。 Several times we have thought her
dying； and the priests had administered the last sacraments； but she
has always returned to life to suffer with her full reason and the
most absolute clearness of mind； for her faculties of heart and soul
are still untouched。 Though she has lived； monsieur； she has caused
the deaths of her mother and her husband； who have not been able to
endure the suffering of such scenes。 Alas！ monsieur； those distressing
scenes are becoming worse。 All the natural functions are perverted；
the Faculty alone can explain the strange aberration of the organs。
She was in this state when I brought her from the provinces to Paris
in 1829； because the two or three distinguished doctors to whom I
wrote； Desplein； Bianchon； and Haudry； thought from my letters that I
was telling them fables。 Magnetism was then energetically denied by
all the schools of medicine； and without saying that they doubted
either my word or that of the provincial doctors； they said we could
not have observed thoroughly； or else we had been misled by the
exaggeration which patients are apt to indulge in。 But they were
forced to change their minds when they saw my daughter； and it is to
the phenomena they then observed that the great researches made in
these latter days are owing； for I must tell you that they class my
daughter's singular state as a form of neurosis。 At the last
consultation of these gentlemen they decided to stop all medicines； to
let nature alone and study it。 Since then I have had but one doctor；
and he is the doctor who attends the poor of this quarter。 We do
nothing for her now but alleviate pain； for we know not the cause of
it。〃
Here the old man stopped as if overcome with his harrowing confidence。
〃For the last five years；〃 he continued； 〃my daughter alternates
between revivals and relapses； but no new phenomena have appeared。 She
suffers more or less from the varied nervous attacks I have briefly
described to you； but the paralysis of the legs and the derangement of
the natural functions are constant。 The poverty into which we fell；
and which alas！ is only increasing； obliged me to leave the rooms that
I took； in 1829； in the faubourg du Roule。 My daughter cannot endure
the fatigue of moving； I came near losing her when I brought her to
Paris； and again when I removed her to this house。 Here my worst
financial misfortunes have come upon me。 After thirty years in the
public service I was made to wait four years before my pension was
granted。 I have only received it during the last six months and even
then the new government has sternly cut it down to the minimum。〃
Godefroid made a gesture of surprise which seemed to ask for a more
complete confidence。 The old man so understood it； for he answered
immediately； casting a reproachful glance to heaven：
〃I am one of the thousand victims of political reaction。 I conceal my
name because it is the mark for many a revenge。 If the lessons of
experience were not always wasted from one generation to another I
should warn you； young man； never to adopt the sternness of any
policy。 Not that I regret having done my duty； my conscience is
perfectly clear on that score； but the powers of to…day have not that
solidarity which formerly bound all governments together as
governments； no matter how different they might be； if to…day they
reward zealous agents it is because they are afraid of them。 The
instrument they have used； no matter how faithful it has been； is；
sooner or later； cast aside。 You see in me one of the firmest
supporters of the government of the elder branch of the Bourbons； as I
was later of the Imperial power； yet here I am in penury！ Since I am
too proud to beg； they have never dreamed that I suffer untold misery。
Five days ago； monsieur； the doctor who takes care of my daughter； or
rather I should say； observes her； told me that he was unable to cure
a disease the forms of which varied perpetually。 He says that neurotic
patients are the despair of science； for the causes of their
conditions are only to be found in some as yet unexplored system。 He
advised me to have recourse to a physician who has been called a
quack； but he carefully pointed out that this man was a stranger； a
Polish Jew； a refugee； and that the Parisian doctors were extremely
jealous of certain wonderful cures he had made； and also of the
opinion expressed by many that he is very learned and extremely able。
Only； Dr。 Berton says； he is very exacting and overbearing。 He selects
his patients； and will not allow an instant of his time to be wasted；
and he isa communist！ His name is Halpersohn。 My grandson has been
twice to find him； but he is always too busy to attend to him； he has
not been to see us； I fully understand why。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃Because my grandson； who is sixteen years old； is even more shabbily
dressed than I am。 Would you believe it； monsieur？ I /dare/ not go to
that doctor； my clothes are so out of keeping with a man of my age and
dignity。 If he saw the father as shabby as I am； and the boy even
worse； he might not give my daughter the needful attention； he would
treat us as doctors treat the poor。 And think； my dear monsieur； that
I love my daughter for all the suffering she has caused me； just as I
used to love her for the joys I had in her。 She has become angelic。
Alas！ she is nothing now but a soul； a soul which beams upon her son
and me； the body no longer exists； she has conquered suffering。 Think
what a spectacle for a father！ The whole world； to my daughter； is
within the walls of her room。 I keep it filled with flowers； for she
loves them。 She reads a great deal； and when she has the use of her
hands she works like a fairy。 She has no conception of the horrible
poverty to which we are reduced。 This makes our household way of life
so strange； so eccentric； that we cannot admit visitors。 Do you now
understand me； monsieur？ Can you not