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Rh "He has not entirely lost his reason?"

"No, monsieur, he's not absolutely demented; he's unsound on but one point, so he comes entirely within your specialty."

"What's the characteristic of his malady?"

"Alas, monsieur, the characteristic of our times—cupidity. The poor fellow is certainly the man of the period. After working from childhood, he finds himself poor. My father, starting where he did, left me considerable property. My uncle began by being jealous; then realizing that he was my only relative, and would be my heir in case of death, or my guardian in case of insanity, as a weak mind easily believes what it desires, the unhappy man persuaded himself that I had lost my reason. He has toid everybody so: will say the same to you. In the carriage, although his own hands were bound, he thought that it was he who was bringing me to you."

"When was the first attack?"

"About three months ago. He went down and said to my concierge, with a frightened air: 'Monsieur Emmanuel, you have a daughter; leave her in your lodge, and come and help me bind my nephew.'"

"Does he realize his condition? Does he know that he is not himself?"

"No, monsieur, and I think that's a good sign. I'll tell you, moreover, that he has some