“Yes, yes, I remember,” the doctor rejoined in encouraging tones. He was looking at Brand with a searching gaze and saying to himself: “Faugh! How repulsive his face has grown! He’s going to tell me the whole truth this time!”
Brand was silent again and the doctor went on, a little more briskly: “Well, let’s begin and have it over with. You must bear in mind that the secrets of the physician’s office are as sacred as those of the confessional.”
“I know it, Dr. Annister. But it’s a strange story I have to tell you, and I don’t know whether or not you can help me. I thought I could fight it out myself and win, but I can’t. And if you can’t help me God knows what will become of me.”
His voice sank despairingly and he dropped into the chair again, his face in his hands.
“I’ll do my best, Felix, whatever it is,” the other encouraged again. “Don’t hesitate to confide in me. I’ve listened to many, many strange stories in this room, and only the walls are any the wiser.”
“I suppose I’m ill.” Brand started up again and moved about with uneasy steps. “I believe you physicians have decided it’s an illness—and I think you’ve treated some cases—” he halted and seemed to gather up resolution for his next words—“dissociated, or dual, personality—that’s what you call it, isn’t it?”
Dr. Annister sat bolt upright and for an instant could not put under professional control the surprise that crossed his face. But Brand, half turned away, was gazing at the floor as if he found it difficult to meet his companion’s eyes. He was conscious of an edge of impersonal interest in the physician’s voice:
“Yes, I’ve done a little in that line—a few cases—but nothing to equal in importance the work of one or two others. But I’ve been pretty successful. Doubtless I can help you. Go on. Tell me about it.”
“It’s that damned Hugh Gordon!” the architect broke out, turning savagely toward the doctor, his face distorted with anger and his eyes blazing. “He’s fighting me for my body! He said he’d push me off the edge, and he’s doing it. Save me, Dr. Annister! Save me from him! Send him back to where he came from!” In sudden realization of the fate that threatened him Brand sank trembling into his chair.
“I’ll try, Felix, I’ll do my best, and I’m sure I can help you. But you must tell me everything about it. How long has this condition been going on? When did it begin?”