the accident is ruled off from
my present--that is, when I am awake.

"When I dream I become my old self again--is that not strange?"

"No," said Thenard, "every man is double. We have numerous cases where,
from accident or other circumstances, a man's personality changes; one
side of his nature is suppressed. There is one strange point about your
case, though, and that is the waking up of the suppressed personality so
vividly during sleep; but in your case it is perhaps not so strange."

"Why not?"

"Because, and excuse me for being personal even though I am complimentary,
your personality as I knew you before your accident was so profound, and
vivid, and powerful, that even though it is suppressed it must speak. And
it speaks in dreams."

"So!--perhaps you are right. Now tell me, if you operate and remove the
pressure, may I become myself again?"

"You may."

"Even after all this time?"

"The mind," said Thenard, "has nothing to do with time. At the Battle of
the Nile, a sea captain, one of those iron-headed Englishmen, was struck
on his iron head with fragment of shell. He lost his memory. Eight months
after he was trephined; he awoke from the operation completing the order
he was giving to his sailors when the accident cut him short----"

"I would be the same man. I would not be tormented with the other self
which is me, now?"

"Possibly--I do not say probably, but possibly."

"Then," said Berselius, "for God's sake, operate at once."

"I would like to wait for another twelve hours," said Thenard, rising and
re-examining the slight dent of his patient's skull.

"Why?"

"Well, to see if things may be cleared up a bit, and the necessity for
operation be removed."

"Operate."

"You know, in every operation, however slight, there is an element of
danger to life."

"Life! what do I care? I insist on your operating. Not another night shall
pass----"

"As you will," said Thenard.

"And now," said Berselius, "make your preparations, and send me my
secretary."

* * * * *

At twelve o'clock that night, Maxine was seated in the library, with a
book which she had been vainly trying to read face downward on the floor
beside her.

Thenard, his assistant surgeon, and two nurses, had arrived shortly after
ten. Operating table, instruments, everything necessary had been brought,
set up, and fixed by Thenard's own man.

Adams had no part in the proceedings ex