lic University of
Louvain, who had attended _him_ for the eyes, and had the reputation
of being the first oculist in Belgium.

Barty wrote immediately and an appointment was made, and in three
days he saw the great man, half professor, half priest, who took him
into a dark chamber lighted by a lamp, and dilated his pupil with
atropine, and looked into his eye with the newly discovered
"ophthalmoscope."

Professor Noiret told him it was merely a congestion of the
retina--for which no cause could be assigned; and that he would be
cured in less than a month. That he was to have a seton let into the
back of his neck, dry-cup himself on the chest and thighs night and
morning, and take a preparation of mercury three times a day. Also
that he must go to the seaside immediately--and he recommended
Ostend.

Barty told him that he was an impecunious art student, and that
Ostend was a very expensive place.

Noiret considerately recommended Blankenberghe, which was cheap;
asked for and took his full fee, and said, with a courtly priestly
bow:

"If you are not cured, come back in a month. _Au revoir!_"

So poor Barty had the seton put in by a kind of barber-surgeon, and
was told how to dress it night and morning; got his medicines and
his dry-cupping apparatus, and went off to Blankenberghe quite
hopeful.

And there things happened to him which I really think are worth
telling; in the first place, because, even if they did not concern
Barty Josselin, they should be amusing for their own sake--that is,
if I could only tell them as he told me afterwards; and I will do my
best!

And then he was nearing the end of the time when he was to remain as
other mortals are. His new life was soon to open, the great change
to which we owe the Barty Josselin who had changed the world for
_us_!

Besides, this is a biography--not a novel--not literature! So what
does it matter how it's written, so long as it's all true!

Part Fifth

"O celeste haine,
Comment t'assouvir?
O souffrance humaine,
Qui te peut guerir?
Si lourde est ma peine
J'en voudrais mourir--
Tel est mon desir!

"Navre de comprendre,
Las de compatir,
Pour ne plus entendre,
Ni voir, ni sentir,
Je suis pret a rendre
Mon dernier soupir--
Et c'est mon desir!

"Ne plus rien connaitre,
Ni me souvenir--
Ne jamais renaitre,
Ni me rendormir--
Ne pl