Паразит
IV
IfIconsultanymore,theymayputtheirheadstogetherandImayfindmyselfinanasylum.Icanbutgripmycouragewithbothhands,andpraythatanhonestmanmaynotbeabandoned.April10.Itisthesweetestspringwithinthememoryofman.Sogreen,somild,sobeautiful!Ah,whatacontrastbetweennaturewithoutandmyownsoulsotornwithdoubtandterror!Ithasbeenanuneventfulday,butIknowthatIamontheedgeofanabyss.Iknowit,andyetIgoonwiththeroutineofmylife.TheonebrightspotisthatAgathaishappyandwellandoutofalldanger.Ifthiscreaturehadahandoneachofus,whatmightshenotdo?April16.Thewomanisingeniousinhertorments.SheknowshowfondIamofmywork,andhowhighlymylecturesarethoughtof.Soitisfromthatpointthatshenowattacksme.Itwillend,Icansee,inmylosingmyprofessorship,butIwillfighttothefinish.Sheshallnotdrivemeoutofitwithoutastruggle.IwasnotconsciousofanychangeduringmylecturethismorningsavethatforaminuteortwoIhadadizzinessandswimminesswhichrapidlypassedaway.Onthecontrary,Icongratulatedmyselfuponhavingmademysubject(thefunctionsoftheredcorpuscles)bothinterestingandclear.Iwassurprised,therefore,whenastudentcameintomylaboratoryimmediatelyafterthelecture,andcomplainedofbeingpuzzledbythediscrepancybetweenmystatementsandthoseinthetextbooks.Heshowedmehisnote-book,inwhichIwasreportedashavinginoneportionofthelecturechampionedthemostoutrageousandunscientificheresies.
