I was, in fact, touched by the
mild mania of the hermit. My club I never entered. A line drawn
from east to west, a tangent at the lowest point of the
Zoological Gardens formed the southern boundary of my wanderings.
Once I spied in the distance that very kind soul, Mrs. McMurray,
and rushed into a providential omnibus, so as to avoid
recognition. My History remained untouched. The glamour
of theRenaissance had vanished. For occupation I read the
Neo-Platonists, Thaumaturgy, Demonology and the like, which I had
always found a fascinating although futile study. I regretted my
bowing acquaintance with modern science, which forbade my setting
up a laboratory with alembics and magic crystals wherewith to
conduct experiments for the finding of the Elixir Vitae and the
Philosopher's Stone.
I seldom read the newspapers. I had an idea, like an eminent
personage of the period, that a sort of war was going on, but it
failed to interest me greatly. I shrank from the noise of it.
"Monsieur," said Antoinette, "will get ill if he does not go out
into the sunshine.
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