I

—You know that he is not at all well, said the waiter, seeing Prometheus a few days later.

—Who?

—Damocles—Oh! very bad:—it was coming out after your lecture that he was taken ill....

—But what is the matter?

—The doctors hesitate;—it is a very unusual illness ... a shrinkage of the spine....

—The spine?

—Yes, the spine.—At least, unless a miracle happens he must get worse. He is very low, I assure you, and you should go and see him.

—You go very often yourself?