Page:Garshin - A Red Flower (1911).djvu/20

18 The physician smiled.

"Rare logic," said he, rising. "I think you're right. Good-by. Will you have a cigar?"

"Thank you." He stopped, took the cigar and nervously bit off the end. "This helps one to think," said he. "This world is a microcosm. On one end is alkali, and on the other acids. The same equilibrium has the world, in which the opposing ends become neutralized. Farewell, doctor!"

The physician went further. Many of the patients, stretched in their hammocks, were awaiting him anxiously. No commander receives such homage from his subordinates as does the head physician from his insane patients.

Our patient, left alone, continued to pace impetuously from one end of the chamber to the other. Tea was brought him. Without seating himself, he swallowed in two gulps the entire contents of the cup, and it took him but an instant to make away with a big slice of white bread. Later he went out of the room, and, taking no rest, spent several hours in walking, with his usual rapid and heavy gait, from one end of the building to the other. It was a rainy day and the