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Iwasanervous,sensitiveboy,adreamer,asomnambulist,fullofimpressionsandintuitions.Myblackhair,mydarkeyes,mythin,oliveface,mytaperingfingers,areallcharacteristicofmyrealtemperament,andcauseexpertslikeWilsontoclaimmeastheirown.Butmybrainissoakedwithexactknowledge.Ihavetrainedmyselftodealonlywithfactandwithproof.Surmiseandfancyhavenoplaceinmyschemeofthought.ShowmewhatIcanseewithmymicroscope,cutwithmyscalpel,weighinmybalance,andIwilldevotealifetimetoitsinvestigation.Butwhenyouaskmetostudyfeelings,impressions,suggestions,youaskmetodowhatisdistastefulandevendemoralizing.Adeparturefrompurereasonaffectsmelikeanevilsmelloramusicaldiscord.WhichisaverysufficientreasonwhyIamalittleloathtogotoProfessorWilson’stonight.StillIfeelthatIcouldhardlygetoutoftheinvitationwithoutpositiverudeness;and,nowthatMrs.MardenandAgathaaregoing,ofcourseIwouldnotifIcould.ButIhadrathermeetthemanywhereelse.IknowthatWilsonwoulddrawmeintothisnebuloussemi-scienceofhisifhecould.Inhisenthusiasmheisperfectlyimpervioustohintsorremonstrances.Nothingshortofapositivequarrelwillmakehimrealizemyaversiontothewholebusiness.Ihavenodoubtthathehassomenewmesmeristorclairvoyantormediumortricksterofsomesortwhomheisgoingtoexhibittous,forevenhisentertainmentsbearuponhishobby.Well,itwillbeatreatforAgatha,atanyrate.
