Page:Weird Tales Volume 4 Number 2 (1924-05-07).djvu/92

90 ) since earliest infancy, it can readily be seen how, when his poor wits finally broke down, he came to imagine himself a werewolf.

''The fact that he was lucid enough on every subject save this one delusion, stamps his ailment as paranoia, or monomania, one of the commonest forms of insanity among the young and middle aged. The man must have been quite powerless to restrain himself when seized with one of his attacks, and, in any modern court, he would have been committed to an institution without even being brought to trial.''

''It does not appear that he ate the flesh of his victims because of hunger. On the contrary, this shocking act must be regarded purely as a symptom of his derangement. When under the spell of his disease the lunatic frequently resorts to the most unlikely diet. The author was once present at an autopsy performed on a paranoiac's body when no less than half a dozen ten-penny nails were extracted from the unfortunate man's stomach, several of them almost entirely eroded by the natural hydrochloric acid of that organ.'' —.

HE family of Geramb is of French origin, and has long been established at Vienna, where its different members have distinguished themselves in the various employments given them by their sovereign, who had always estimated their worth as it deserved.

One of them, who was chamberlain to Francis II was entrusted by the emperor with a diplomatic mission of a secret nature, and went by his orders to Hamburgh. It was at that period when Bonaparte was at war with Austria. Scarcely had Monsieur de Geramb arrived at the inn, where he purposed staying for some time, than he found himself surrounded by the satellites of Napoleon, who had arrived the evening before, and who, disguised as servants, had announced him under another name, saying that he was only going to change his carriage, as he was to go on in the one they had brought. He was therefore, soon after his arrival, seized on, and carried off with all his papers, without being able to speak to anyone, or make himself known. He was transported to the Chateau de Vincennes, thrown into a dungeon, where he could only see the light of day through a hole made in the roof, and through which he received a scanty portion of food. From that time he had little doubt but that he was shortly destined to become a victim to the atrocious policy of a man into whose power he had fallen in a manner so contrary to the laws of nations. He, therefore, set about preparing himself for instant death. In the meantime his imprisonment was prolonged from day to day, from week to week, and from year to year, without any questions being asked him; without his seeing the face of any human being, except that of the gaoler, who, every twenty-four hours, let down a basket from the height of fifteen feet, and which contained his scanty meal; who inquired of him every fortnight, if he wanted anything, and never replied to any question he asked him.

At length, after several years passed away in this frightful solitude, he was much surprised, in the month of April, 1814, to hear several doors opening in the caverns, and even that of his own dungeon, He had no doubt but what the hour of his punishment was arrived, and he was so resigned to his long-expected fate, that he scarce felt any emotion. In the meantime, the gaoler, presenting himself before him only said, with a harsh voice, "Come out Sir." However he might feel himself prepared to meet his fate with submission, he thought he ought not to show too much haste in hurrying on the fatal moment; and he remained quiet, waiting to see how he should be disposed of, while he employed himself in prayer and meditation. Half an hour after the gaoler appeared again, found him on his knees, and cried out, "Well, are you coming out? Everybody has gone out." Baron de Geramb, not rightly comprehending these words, and becoming more and more astonished, rose up, followed the man, who walked before him with a lamp in his hand, and ascended with difficulty a long flight of stairs. He, at length, arrived in a court, where he saw a number of persons, whose squalid figures and meagre countenances, nevertheless, evinced some great and joyful surprise. They were, like himself, prisoners just relieved from their fetters; and who, by their cries of "Long live the king," felicitated each other, as they mutually embraced, and hailed the return of Louis le Desire. Among these groups was a venerable bishop, who, extending his hands over one and the other, alternately bestowed on them his blessing and his pious exhortations. The baron threw himself on the bosom of the prelate, and with his eyes suffused in tears, he said to him, "Ah! Sir, this moment, so sweet to my companions, how cruel is it to me! At an immense distance from my native country, unknown to any one at Paris, having but very slight means of subsistence, I expect death will soon terminate my sorrows; I have no other wish than to make confession of my faults to a minister of our holy religion, and receive that absolution which I hope to see ratified in heaven, as my penitence is sincere; the liberty that is now granted me is a more cruel gift than that death to which I fancied myself destined." "My dear son," said the bishop, pressing the baron to his bosom, and leading him out of the castle, "never despair of the goodness of Providence; he never forsakes those who put their trust in him. If heaven has been pleased to try you thus, it perhaps may recompense your patience and sufferings even in this life; I dare hope, after the religious sentiments you have just manifested, that you are destined to be one of the chief supports of our church." As they uttered these last words, they had arrived at the outward gate of the castle, and were interrupted by the clamor of the drum and trumpets. Baron de Geramb turned about, and that moment perceived his brother, who was a Major-General in the Austrian service, and was then at the head of a corps of Cuirassiers belonging to the emperor. The two brothers rushed to each other's arms, and suffered a most affecting scene to the surrounding spectators, as well as the venerable prelate, who seemed to have seen the goodness of the Almighty rewarding the piety of Monsieur de Geramb; which determined him, from that moment, to renounce the vanities of this world, and to enter a monastery of the most rigid order of discipline and austerity.