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Part V
"A nd you saw her?" said the doctor in French. "Yes; but the three-thousand-year gag did not work! She spotted you, cher ami, on the instant. And she wouldn`t let me take her with my kodak." The doctor looked grave. "I see," he mused thoughtfully. "You must have my camera, a larger one and more bulky perhaps to carry; but she will not object to that,--she who has stood for full lengths. I will give you some private instructions." "But, cher doctor, this previous-existence idea--at what do you arrive?" "There is much to say for it," said the doctor oracularly. "It has survived in the belief of all ages. Who can tell? That some men in a previous existence may have been goats or apes," continued the doctor, looking at him curiously, "does not seem improbable! From the time of Pythagoras we have known that; but that the individual as an individual ego has been remanded or projected, has harked back or anticipated himself, is, we may say, with our powers of apperception,--that is, the perception that we are perceiving,-- is"-- But the Chevalier had fled. "No matter," said the doctor, "I will see McFeckless." He did. He found him gloomy, distraught, baleful. He felt his pulse. "The mixture as before," he said briefly, "and a little innocent diversion. There is an Aunt Sally on the esplanade--two throws for a penny. It will do you good. Think no more of this woman! Listen,--I wish you well; your family have always been good patients of mine. Marry some good Scotch girl; I know one with fifty thousand pounds. Let the Princess go!" "To him--never! I will marry her! Yet," he murmured softly to himself, "feefty thousand pun` is nae small sum. Aye! Not that I care for siller--but feefty thousand pun`! Eh, sirs!"
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