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relaxation from too strenuous labour； and would like too see me。
Meunier had now a European reputation； but his letter to me
expressed that keen remembrance of an early regard； an early debt
of sympathy； which is inseparable from nobility of character： and
I too felt as if his presence would be to me like a transient
resurrection into a happier pre…existence。
He came； and as far as possible； I renewed our old pleasure of
making tete…a…tete excursions； though； instead of mountains and
glacers and the wide blue lake； we had to content ourselves with
mere slopes and ponds and artificial plantations。 The years had
changed us both； but with what different result！ Meunier was now a
brilliant figure in society； to whom elegant women pretended to
listen； and whose acquaintance was boasted of by noblemen ambitious
of brains。 He repressed with the utmost delicacy all betrayal of
the shock which I am sure he must have received from our meeting；
or of a desire to penetrate into my condition and circumstances；
and sought by the utmost exertion of his charming social powers to
make our reunion agreeable。 Bertha was much struck by the
unexpected fascinations of a visitor whom she had expected to find
presentable only on the score of his celebrity； and put forth all
her coquetries and accomplishments。 Apparently she succeeded in
attracting his admiration； for his manner towards her was attentive
and flattering。 The effect of his presence on me was so benignant；
especially in those renewals of our old tete…a…tete wanderings；
when he poured forth to me wonderful narratives of his professional
experience； that more than once； when his talk turned on the
psychological relations of disease； the thought crossed my mind
that； if his stay with me were long enough； I might possibly bring
myself to tell this man the secrets of my lot。 Might there not lie
some remedy for me； too； in his science？ Might there not at least
lie some comprehension and sympathy ready for me in his large and
susceptible mind？ But the thought only flickered feebly now and
then； and died out before it could become a wish。 The horror I had
of again breaking in on the privacy of another soul； made me； by an
irrational instinct； draw the shroud of concealment more closely
around my own； as we automatically perform the gesture we feel to
be wanting in another。
When Meunier's visit was approaching its conclusion； there happened
an event which caused some excitement in our household； owing to
the surprisingly strong effect it appeared to produce on Berthaon
Bertha； the self…possessed； who usually seemed inaccessible to
feminine agitations； and did even her hate in a self…restrained
hygienic manner。 This event was the sudden severe illness of her
maid； Mrs。 Archer。 I have reserved to this moment the mention of a
circumstance which had forced itself on my notice shortly before
Meunier's arrival； namely； that there had been some quarrel between
Bertha and this maid； apparently during a visit to a distant
family； in which she had accompanied her mistress。 I had overheard
Archer speaking in a tone of bitter insolence； which I should have
thought an adequate reason for immediate dismissal。 No dismissal
followed； on the contrary； Bertha seemed to be silently putting up
with personal inconveniences from the exhibitions of this woman's
temper。 I was the more astonished to observe that her illness
seemed a cause of strong solicitude to Bertha； that she was at the
bedside night and day； and would allow no one else to officiate as
head…nurse。 It happened that our family doctor was out on a
holiday； an accident which made Meunier's presence in the house
doubly welcome； and he apparently entered into the case with an
interest which seemed so much stronger than the ordinary
professional feeling； that one day when he had fallen into a long
fit of silence after visiting her； I said to him …
〃Is this a very peculiar case of disease； Meunier？〃
〃No；〃 he answered； 〃it is an attack of peritonitis； which will be
fatal； but which does not differ physically from many other cases
that have come under my observation。 But I'll tell you what I have
on my mind。 I want to make an experiment on this woman； if you
will give me permission。 It can do her no harmwill give her no
painfor I shall not make it until life is extinct to all purposes
of sensation。 I want to try the effect of transfusing blood into
her arteries after the heart has ceased to beat for some minutes。
I have tried the experiment again and again with animals that have
died of this disease； with astounding results； and I want to try it
on a human subject。 I have the small tubes necessary； in a case I
have with me； and the rest of the apparatus could be prepared
readily。 I should use my own bloodtake it from my own arm。 This
woman won't live through the night； I'm convinced； and I want you
to promise me your assistance in making the experiment。 I can't do
without another hand； but it would perhaps not be well to call in a
medical assistant from among your provincial doctors。 A
disagreeable foolish version of the thing might get abroad。〃
〃Have you spoken to my wife on the subject？〃 I said； 〃because she
appears to be peculiarly sensitive about this woman： she has been
a favourite maid。〃
〃To tell you the truth；〃 said Meunier； 〃I don't want her to know
about it。 There are always insuperable difficulties with women in
these matters； and the effect on the supposed dead body may be
startling。 You and I will sit up together； and be in readiness。
When certain symptoms appear I shall take you in； and at the right
moment we must manage to get every one else out of the room。〃
I need not give our farther conversation on the subject。 He
entered very fully into the details； and overcame my repulsion from
them； by exciting in me a mingled awe and curiosity concerning the
possible results of his experiment。
We prepared everything； and he instructed me in my part as
assistant。 He had not told Bertha of his absolute conviction that
Archer would not survive through the night； and endeavoured to
persuade her to leave the patient and take a night's rest。 But she
was obstinate； suspecting the fact that death was at hand； and
supposing that he wished merely to save her nerves。 She refused to
leave the sick…room。 Meunier and I sat up together in the library；
he making frequent visits to the sick…room； and returning with the
information that the case was taking precisely the course he
expected。 Once he said to me； 〃Can you imagine any cause of ill…
feeling this woman has against her mistress； who is so devoted to
her？〃
〃I think there was some misunderstanding between them before her
illness。 Why do you ask？〃
〃Because I have observed for the last five or six hourssince； I
fancy； she has lost all hope of recoverythere seems a strange
prompting in her to say something which pain and failing strength
forbid her to utter； and there is a look of hideous meaning in her
eyes； which she turns continually towards her mistress。 In this
disease the mind often remains singularly clear to the last。〃
〃I am not surprised at an i