Паразит
III
"Whatareyourgroundsforsayingthatitisadangerousone?Pleasegiveyourfactsinchronologicalorder,withapproximatedatesandnamesofreliablewitnesseswiththeirpermanentaddresses.""Firstofall,"Iasked,"wouldyoutellmewhetheryouhavecollectedanycaseswherethemesmeristhasgainedacommandoverthesubjectandhasuseditforevilpurposes?""Dozens!"hecriedexultantly."Crimebysuggestion——""Idon’tmeansuggestion.Imeanwhereasuddenimpulsecomesfromapersonatadistance—anuncontrollableimpulse.""Obsession!"heshrieked,inanecstasyofdelight."Itistherarestcondition.Wehaveeightcases,fivewellattested.Youdon’tmeantosay——"Hisexultationmadehimhardlyarticulate."No,Idon’t,"saidI."Good-evening!Youwillexcuseme,butIamnotverywellto-night."AndsoatlastIgotridofhim,stillbrandishinghispencilandhisnote-book.Mytroublesmaybebadtohear,butatleastitisbettertohugthemtomyselfthantohavemyselfexhibitedbyWilson,likeafreakatafair.Hehaslostsightofhumanbeings.Everythingtohimisacaseandaphenomenon.IwilldiebeforeIspeaktohimagainuponthematter.April12.Yesterdaywasablesseddayofquiet,andIenjoyedanuneventfulnight.Wilson’spresenceisagreatconsolation.Whatcanthewomandonow?Surely,whenshehasheardmesaywhatIhavesaid,shewillconceivethesamedisgustformewhichIhaveforher.Shecouldnot,no,sheCOULDnot,desiretohavealoverwhohadinsultedherso.