Part 29 (1/2)
This time the formula was changed. In a loud tone, which, however, was mellifluous and persuasive, he uttered these words:
”You are asleep!”
He paused and anxiously awaited the result. For a brief instant success poised upon the verge of his desire. Leon's eyes closed, and his head drooped forward. Then, like lightning, there came a change.
The lad jumped up, and started back, a.s.suming an att.i.tude of defiance, and a wrathful demeanor. He was entirely awake and in full control of his senses as he cried out:
”You tried to mesmerize me!”
As swiftly the Doctor was again master of himself, and, recognizing defeat, he was fully prepared to a.s.sume control of the situation and twist circ.u.mstances so that they should culminate in advantage to himself. In the very moment of his first failure, his quick mind grasped at the hope that was offered by Leon's words. He had said ”mesmerize,” and this convinced Dr. Medjora that the word ”hypnotize”
was as yet unknown to him, and that all the later discoveries in psychical science must be as a sealed book to him. So with perfect calmness he replied:
”I fail to see upon what you base such a senseless deduction. You have sat motionless for half an hour. I called you three or four times, and you did not reply. Then I came here and stood beside you, but you took no notice of me. Finally I said what I thought was true, 'You are asleep!' Instantly you jump up like a madman and accuse me of trying to mesmerize you. Now, why? Explain!”
How could this youth cope with the skill of such a man? He could not.
As he listened to the Doctor's words and heard his frank and friendly speech, his fears were banished, his suspicions lulled, and he felt ashamed. Being honest, he expressed his thoughts:
”I beg your pardon, Doctor. I think now that I must have been sleeping. Your words startled me, and, as I awoke, I spoke stupidly.
Will you forgive me?”
There was a shade of anxiety in his tones, which demonstrated to the Doctor that he valued his friends.h.i.+p, and feared to alienate his good will. Thus he knew that he had deftly dispelled doubt, and that nothing had been lost. Indeed, something had been gained, for he knew now what he had only before suspected; that Leon could not be hypnotized. Or, rather, not by any one else in the world besides himself, for he by no means abandoned his design. Only, when next he should make an attempt, he would take better precautions, and he would succeed. So he thought. Now, it would be as well to continue the conversation, by discussing the suggested topic, for it would strengthen the lad's confidence, if he did not appear to shun it.
”Forgive you, my boy,” said the Doctor, ”there is nothing to forgive.
It was I who was stupid, for I should not have disturbed you so unexpectedly. But I am fond of studying human beings, and you have been very entertaining to me to-night. I have been observing the effect that Nature can produce upon a virgin mind, such as yours. You have been drinking in the grandeur of the world about us, until you were so enthralled that you had forgotten all except the emotions by which you were moved. You were not asleep, but you were in an abstraction so deep that it was akin to sleep. I yielded to the temptation of saying what I did, merely to see what effect it would produce. I was certainly surprised at the result. That you should have been startled is natural enough, but how the idea of mesmerism occurred to you, bewilders me. What do you know about that mysterious subject?”
”Not very much,” said Leon, with some diffidence. ”As you may imagine, Doctor, I have not had a large library from which to choose. But I have read a translation of a work by Deleuze, which appears to discuss the subject thoroughly.”
”Ah! I see. You have read Deleuze. I am familiar with the work. Well, then, tell me. After weighing the matter thoroughly in your own mind, do you believe it is possible for one person to mesmerize another?”
”I do not. Most emphatically I do not,” said Leon.
”Most emphatically you do not. A strong way to express your views, for which you must of course have convincing reasons. But if so, why were you afraid that I would do what you emphatically believe to be an impossibility?” The Doctor smiled indulgently as he asked this embarra.s.sing question.
”Because, as you have said, I was only half-awake,” replied Leon, apologetically.
The Doctor was now a.s.sured that Leon, even when he should come to think over the occurrences of the night when alone, would harbor no suspicion against him. So all would be safe.
”Well, then,” continued the Doctor, ”tell me why you are so sure that mesmerism is not possible. You say you have read Deleuze. He claims that wonderful things may be accomplished.”
”So wonderful that a thinking man cannot believe them to be true.”
”But surely Deleuze was honest, and he relates many remarkable cases which he a.s.sures his readers occurred within his own cognizance.”
”That is very true. No one who reads the author's book could doubt the sincerity of his purpose and the truth of what he relates. Or rather I should say, one must believe that he does not wilfully deceive. But it must be equally evident that the man was deluded.”
”Why so?”
”It is difficult to tell exactly. But I know this, that after reading his work, which is intended to convince the skeptic, not only did his words leave me unconvinced, but a positive disbelief was aroused.
There are places where he makes a.s.sertions, which he admits he cannot explain. He tells of wonderful occurrences which he cannot account for, while, in spite of that, he does not hesitate to attribute them to mesmerism. Such teaching is unsatisfactory and unscientific.”
”Very true, but because Deleuze did not understand a phenomenon, does it logically follow that there is no explanation of it to be had?”