The Blind Spot
ely all too easily told. We go back
short, well-built figure clothed in black, his snow-white whiskers trimmed to the usual square crop and his pink skin glowing with splendid healt
ir hand-clasp. A strange pair, both of them with the distinction and poise that come from refinement and intellectual training; t
re we could not fail. This, my dear Dr. A
r took t
ing about your Columbus. So far it has been simply wonderful. I can scarcely credit m
ination. I was certain we could not fail; though, of course, to me also it is an almo
ther
must go the credit; to me the pleasure. Take your sun, f
had gone in t
day! What will the world say? It is pr
of time. I thought of it; but I ha
lecture-room. Today I shall deliver my lecture on the Blind Spot. And wh
head kindly. It was evident that while the doctor was the
and not entirely that. There are some details that may not be neglected. It is a far venture and now that we have succeeded this far there is sur
as plainly d
he lec
uccess of our experiment. A few details, a few min
n, twenty minutes for the boat, ten minutes; that's an hour,
more than fif
perhaps a little bit late. Tell you what. I
he know a single thing of philosophy or anything else in Holcomb's teaching. He knew the doctor as a man of eminent standing and respectability. It was hardly natural that he should suspect anything sinister to grow out of this meeting
t quite uncover. It puzzled him. Something told him that for the safety of h
olars were seated in the forward part of the car. In th
t he could do was to keep aloof and follow their movements. At the ferry building they hailed a taxi and started up Market Street. Jerome watched them. In another moment he had another driver
ective that her voice was fearful, of a pregnant warning, that she was protesting. Nevertheless, the old men entered and the door slammed behi
a woman. The man was Rhamda Avec, tall, immaculate, black clad and distinguished. The woman, Jerome was not certain that she was the same who opened the door or not; she was even more beautiful. She was laughing. Like her companion she was clad in black, a beautiful shimmering ma
on; and likewise upset his calculation. He could not follow them and stay with the professor. It was a moment for quick decision. He wondered. Where was Dr. Holcomb? This was the day he was to deliver his lecture on the Blind Spot. He had read the announcement in the paper on the way back, togethe
e in
from inside, the place was but partly furnished. Hollow steps sounded down the hallway, shuffling, like weary bones dragging slippers. The door opened and an old wom
but is Dr. H
he eyes were of blank expression
hite whiskers. He was here a few minutes ago, with th
e was a man went out and a
There was
was a woman-a ve
pped her hand. I
kes two. This morning it was a man a
as so slight and frail and helpless and so old; such a fragile thing to bear burden and troub
two. That makes two. This morning
understand. He pi
that Dr. Holc
blank expression, she was evid
omb. Oh, yes, Dr. Holco
ened t
closed the door carefully and touched his arm. It seemed to him that she was terribly weak and tottering
re his
t he did it for
n co
her wonder. "First a man and then a woman. Now there is one. You are his son." And twice she stopped and listened. "Do you hear anything? A bell? I love to hear
ut her reason or very near
now, first a bell,
she was blank trying to recall her senses. And
b. The little old man with the beautiful whiskers. This morning it was a man; n
nd hollow; the scant furniture was threadbare with age and mildew; each sound was exagger
e two. Now th
ashioned high ceiling. Nothing else. Whatever the weirdness and adventure, Jerome
are two. This morning a man; n
ome. This will n
nous sound-and music. A church bell. Just one stroke, full toned, filling all the air till the whole room was choked with music. Then as suddenly it died out and faded into nothing. At the same time he felt the fingers on his arm relax; and a heap was at his feet. He reached
here a