"Exactly!" Ricori had been watching me closely. "Exactly, Dr. Lowell, what could it be that my friend has
seen-or has been given-that could make him appear so? I am most anxious to learn. I am willing to
spend much money to learn. I wish him cured, yes-but I shall be frank with you, Dr. Lowell. I would
give my last penny for the certainty that those who did this to him could not do the same thing to
me-could not make me as he is, could not make me see what he is seeing, could not make feel what he
is feeling."
At my signal, orderlies had come up. They took the patient and laid him on a stretcher. By this time the
resident physician had appeared. Ricori touched my elbow.
"I know a great deal about you, Dr. Lowell," he said. "I would like you to take full charge of this case."
I hesitated.