“That's it, and I maintain that it's a pretty good assertion.”
“There again we must differ. Happiness should be independent of bodily conditions, whether those conditions mean outward luxury or inward ease. I must again refer you to the prize-fighter. But if you will pardon me, I think you have put the cart before the horse; for once having granted that personal power, happiness must ensue, and your health as a necessity follow. First cultivate this occult force, and we need submit to no physical laws; for inasmuch as the higher controls the lower, we are masters of our own bodies.”
“That is a pretty good prescription for those who are able to follow it, but for my humble attainments I'd rather depend on physic and a virtuous life.”
“Quite so,” answered Ah Ben, thoughtfully, “but, speaking frankly, this limitation of your powers to the chemical action of your body only shows the narrowness of your scientific training. Had men been taught the power of the will as the underlying principle of every effect, one drug would have proved quite as efficacious as another, and bread pills would have met the requirements of the world.”
“But in the state of imbecility in which we happen to find ourselves,” added Paul, “I should think that a judicious application of the world's wisdom would be better than trifling with theories one does not comprehend.”
“As I said just now,” observed Ah Ben, “I have no desire to force my private views upon another, but I must distinctly object to the word 'theory,' as associated with my positive knowledge on this subject. Every man must do as he thinks right, and as suits him best; but, for my part, I have disregarded all the physical laws of health during an unusually long life.”
Paul straightened himself up, and looked at his host in the hope of a further explanation.
“I don't think I quite understand you!”
“Yes,” said Ah Ben, repeating the sentence slowly and emphasizing the words, “I disregard all laws usually considered essential to living at all!”
Henley was silent for a minute in a vain effort to decide whether or not he were speaking seriously. He could not help remembering his abstinence from food, but at the time had not doubted the man had eaten between meals.