ripe for death, and the physician despairing of our recovery advised us
at last to visit this watering-place, as a last resource for restoring
our shattered health. But hitherto we have not found any beneficial
result. And who can assure us that the spectre may not here haunt us
also. She intends to destroy us, and the most inconceivable things are
possible to her strong will. I believe we need only sing an air, or
play a sonata even at this distance, and she would make her appearance."

"I will answer for that, count," cried the doctor in a firm voice, "our
faculty knows how to keep such malicious spirits at a distance."

Here our conversation ended; we sent the patient home in a sedan chair
to his hotel, and I accompanied the physician.

While walking in the quiet of night through the dark avenues of trees,
he said to me, "Dear sir, we are too much excited to sleep, favour me
with your company to my lodging; a powerful aromatic cardinal[2] will
keep up our spirits, and I will there tell you my opinion respecting
our two invalids, of whose recovery, after what I have heard, I no
longer doubt. I would almost promise that in two months I shall send
them home in tolerably good health."

I was astonished at this, as I had given up all hope of the recovery of
my friends. Our strongly-spiced beverage much enlivened us; and the
doctor continued: "The mental disease of your friend is to me one of
the most interesting psychological phenomena that has ever passed under
my observation. He, as well as his wife, are labouring under a
singular madness; and if we once succeed in attacking it rightly, then,
in weakening, and finally in eradicating it altogether, the physical
recovery will follow of itself. Though I did not know your friend
formerly, yet, from his communications, I can exactly and truly
construe his character and fate. He is naturally good and tender, the
latter rather preponderating; and, like most men of this disposition,
is more subject to vanity than those of firmer character. He has been
handsome and amiable, possessed of talents, and persuasive manners, and
has, therefore, been everywhere well received, so that, being a general
favourite, and naturally pliant, he may have turned the head of many a
pretty girl. Meeting, at last, with his beautiful wife, he determined
to change his condition, and her naturally sensitive and nervous nature
was delighted to call so amiable a gentleman her husband. And,