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THE PARASITEA StoryBYA. CONAN DOYLE

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THEPARASITEIMarch24.Thespringisfairlywithusnow.Outsidemylaboratorywindowthegreatchestnut-treeisallcoveredwiththebig,glutinous,gummybuds,someof whichhavealreadybeguntobreakintolittlegreenshuttlecocks.Asyouwalkdownthelanesyouareconsciousoftherich,silentforcesofnatureworkingallaroundyou.Thewetearthsmellsfruitfulandluscious.Greenshootsarepeepingouteverywhere.Thetwigsarestiffwiththeirsap;andthemoist,heavyEnglishairisladenwithafaintlyresinousperfume.Budsinthehedges,lambsbeneaththem--everywheretheworkofreproductiongoingforward!Icanseeitwithout,andIcanfeelitwithin.Wealsohaveourspringwhenthelittlearteriolesdilate,thelymphflowsinabriskerstream,theglandsworkharder,winnowingandstraining.Everyyearnaturereadjuststhewholemachine.Icanfeelthefermentinmybloodatthisverymoment,andasthecoolsunshinepoursthroughmywindowIcoulddanceaboutinitlikeagnat.SoIshould,onlythatCharlesSadler wouldrushupstairstoknowwhatwasthematter.Besides,ImustrememberthatIamProfessorGilroy.Anoldprofessormayaffordtobenatural,butwhenfortunehasgivenoneofthefirstchairsintheuniversitytoamanoffour-and-thirtyhemusttryandactthepartconsistently.WhatafellowWilsonis!IfIcouldonlythrowthesameenthusiasmintophysiologythathedoesintopsychology,IshouldbecomeaClaudeBernardattheleast.Hiswholelifeandsoulandenergyworktooneend.Hedropstosleepcollatinghisresultsofthepastday,andhewakestoplanhisresearchesforthecomingone.Andyet,outsidethenarrowcirclewhofollowhisproceedings,hegetssolittlecreditfor it.Physiologyisarecognizedscience.IfIaddevenabricktotheedifice,everyoneseesandapplaudsit.ButWilsonistryingtodigthefoundationsforascienceofthefuture.Hisworkisundergroundanddoesnotshow.Yethegoesonuncomplainingly,correspondingwithahundredsemi-maniacsinthehopeoffindingonereliablewitness,siftingahundredliesonthechanceofgainingonelittlespeckoftruth,collatingoldbooks,devouringnewones,experimenting,lecturing,tryingtolightupinothersthefieryinterestwhichisconsuminghim.Iamfilledwith

wonderandadmirationwhenIthinkofhim,andyet,whenheasksmetoassociatemyselfwithhisresearches,Iamcompelledtotellhimthat,intheir presentstate,theyofferlittleattractiontoamanwhoisdevotedtoexactscience.Ifhecouldshowmesomethingpositiveandobjective,Imightthenbetemptedtoapproachthequestionfromitsphysiologicalside.Solongashalfhissubjectsaretaintedwithcharlatanerieandtheotherhalfwithhysteriawephysiologistsmustcontentourselveswiththebodyandleavethemindtoourdescendants.NodoubtIamamaterialist.AgathasaysthatIamarankone.Itellherthatisanexcellentreasonfor shorteningourengagement,sinceIaminsuchurgentneedofherspirituality.AndyetImayclaimtobeacuriousexampleoftheeffectofeducationupontemperament,forbynatureIam,unlessIdeceivemyself,ahighlypsychicman.Iwasanervous,sensitiveboy,adreamer,asomnambulist,fullof impressionsandintuitions.Myblackhair,mydarkeyes,mythin,oliveface,mytaperingfingers,areallcharacteristicofmyrealtemperament,andcauseexpertslikeWilsontoclaimmeastheirown.Butmybrainissoakedwithexactknowledge.Ihavetrainedmyselftodealonlywithfactandwithproof.Surmiseandfancyhavenoplaceinmyschemeofthought.ShowmewhatIcanseewithmymicroscope,cutwithmyscalpel,weighinmybalance,andIwilldevotealifetimetoitsinvestigation.Butwhenyouaskmetostudyfeelings,impressions,suggestions,youaskmetodowhatisdistastefulandevendemoralizing.Adeparturefrompurereasonaffectsmelikeanevilsmelloramusicaldiscord.WhichisaverysufficientreasonwhyIamalittleloathtogotoProfessorWilson'stonight.StillIfeelthatIcouldhardlygetoutoftheinvitationwithoutpositiverudeness;and,nowthatMrs.MardenandAgathaaregoing,ofcourseIwouldnotifIcould.ButIhadrathermeetthemanywhereelse.IknowthatWilsonwoulddrawmeintothisnebuloussemi-scienceof hisifhecould.Inhisenthusiasmheisperfectlyimpervioustohintsorremonstrances.Nothingshortof apositivequarrelwillmakehimrealizemyaversiontothewholebusiness.Ihavenodoubtthathehassomenewmesmeristorclairvoyantormediumortricksterof somesortwhomheisgoingtoexhibittous,forevenhisentertainmentsbearuponhishobby.Well,itwillbeatreatforAgatha,atanyrate.Sheisinterestedinit,aswomanusuallyisinwhateverisvagueandmysticalandindefinite.10.50P.M.Thisdiary-keepingofmineis,Ifancy,theoutcomeofthatscientifichabitofmindaboutwhichIwrotethismorning.Iliketoregister impressionswhiletheyarefresh.OnceadayatleastIendeavortodefinemyownmentalposition.Itisausefulpieceofself-analysis,andhas,Ifancy,asteadyingeffectuponthecharacter.Frankly,Imust

confessthatmyownneedswhatstiffeningIcangiveit.Ifearthat,afterall,muchofmyneurotictemperamentsurvives,andthatIamfarfromthatcool,calmprecisionwhichcharacterizesMurdochorPratt-Haldane.Otherwise,whyshouldthetomfoolerywhichIhavewitnessedthiseveninghavesetmynervesthrillingsothatevennowIamallunstrung?MyonlycomfortisthatneitherWilsonnorMissPenclosanor evenAgathacouldhavepossiblyknownmyweakness.Andwhatintheworldwastheretoexciteme?Nothing,orsolittlethatitwillseemludicrouswhenIsetitdown.TheMardensgottoWilson'sbeforeme.Infact,Iwasoneofthelasttoarriveandfoundtheroomcrowded.IhadhardlytimetosayawordtoMrs.MardenandtoAgatha,whowaslookingcharminginwhiteandpink,withglitteringwheat-earsinherhair,whenWilsoncametwitchingatmysleeve."Youwantsomethingpositive,Gilroy,"saidhe,drawingmeapartintoacorner."Mydearfellow,Ihaveaphenomenon--aphenomenon!"IshouldhavebeenmoreimpressedhadInotheardthesamebefore.Hissanguinespiritturnseveryfire-flyintoastar."Nopossiblequestionaboutthebonafidesthistime,"saidhe,inanswer,perhaps,tosomelittlegleamof amusementinmyeyes."Mywifehasknownherformanyyears.TheybothcomefromTrinidad,youknow.MissPenclosahasonlybeeninEnglandamonthortwo,andknowsnooneoutsidetheuniversitycircle,butIassureyouthatthethingsshehastoldussufficeinthemselvestoestablishclairvoyanceuponanabsolutelyscientificbasis.Thereisnothinglikeher,amateur orprofessional.Comeandbeintroduced!"Ilikenoneofthesemystery-mongers,buttheamateur leastofall.Withthepaidperformeryoumaypounceuponhimandexposehimtheinstantthatyouhaveseenthroughhistrick.Heistheretodeceiveyou,andyouaretheretofindhimout.Butwhatareyoutodowiththefriendofyourhost'swife?Areyoutoturnonalightsuddenlyandexposeherslappingasurreptitiousbanjo?Orareyoutohurlcochinealoverhereveningfrockwhenshestealsroundwithherphosphorusbottleandhersupernaturalplatitude?Therewouldbeascene,andyouwouldbelookeduponasabrute.Soyouhaveyourchoiceofbeingthatoradupe.IwasinnoverygoodhumorasIfollowedWilsontothelady.AnyonelesslikemyideaofaWestIndiancouldnotbeimagined.Shewasasmall,frailcreature,wellover forty,Ishouldsay,withapale,peakyface,andhair ofaverylightshadeofchestnut.Herpresencewasinsignificantandhermannerretiring.Inanygroupof tenwomenshewouldhavebeenthelastwhomonewould

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