“I am inclined to believe that he has discovered more than one.” A glow of excitement had begun to course in Brandon’s veins.
“At any rate,” said the doctor, “I defy anyone to see him here in the midst of our patients—very obscure and baffling mental cases, some of them are—without a feeling that he wields a quite remarkable power over certain types of his fellow creatures.”
“One is immensely interested to know that.”
“It is hardly too much to say that the atmosphere of the whole place has changed. Six months ago we could hope for nothing better than the sullen bickerings of Bedlam; today certain of our best cases are rising to a kind of high intellectuality which, I frankly confess, is amazing.”
“And this you attribute to the direct influence of John Smith?”
“It is the only way to account for it.”
“Can you put into words the precise form it takes?”
“In a few minutes I hope you will be able to judge for yourself. In the meantime perhaps you will join me in a cup of tea.” And in deference to the sudden arrival of a well-filled tray, Dr. Thorp suspended for a moment further consideration of the subject.
XXIX
Tea was Brandon’s favorite beverage. And this afternoon it seemed to work a wonder upon him. It caused his veins to thrill and burn with an exhilaration he had never expected to feel again.