"You won special distinction and renown there, I believe, before you adopted this monastic life?" pursued Alwyn, glancing at him curiously.
"Did I?" and Heliobas looked cheerfully interested. "Really I was not aware of it, I assure you! Possibly my ways and doings may have occasionally furnished the Parisians with something to talk about instead of the weather, and I know I made some few friends and an astonishing number of enemies, if that is what you mean by distinction and renown!"
Alwyn smiled--his smile was always reluctant, and had in it more of sadness than sweetness, yet it gave his features a singular softness and beauty, just as a ray of sunlight falling on a dark picture will brighten the tints into a momentary warmth of seeming life.
"All reputation means that, I think," he said, "unless it be mediocre--then one is safe; one has scores of friends, and scarce a foe. Mediocrity succeeds wonderfully well nowadays--nobody hates it, because every one feels how easily they themselves can attain to it. Exceptional talent is aggressive--actual genius is offensive; people are insulted to have a thing held up for their admiration which is entirely out of their reach. They become like bears climbing a greased pole; they see a great name above them--a tempting sugary morsel which they would fain snatch and devour-- and when their uncouth efforts fail, they huddle together on the ground beneath, look up with dull, peering eyes, and impotently snarl! But you,"--and here his gazed rested doubtfully, yet questioningly, on his companion's open, serene countenance--'you, if rumor speaks truly, should have been able to tame YOUR bears and turn them into dogs, humble and couchant! Your marvellous achievements as a mesmerist--"
"Excuse me!" returned Heliobas quietly, "I never was a mesmerist."
"Well-as a spiritualist then; though I cannot admit the existence of any such thing as spiritualism."
"Neither can I," returned Heliobas, with perfect good-humor, "according to the generally accepted meaning of the term. Pray go on, Mr. Alwyn!"
Alwyn looked at him, a little puzzled and uncertain how to proceed. A curious sense of irritation was growing up in his mind against this monk with the grand head and flashing eyes--eyes that seemed to strip bare his innermost thoughts, as lightning strips bark from a tree.
"I was told," he continued after a pause, during which he had apparently considered and prepared his words, "that you were chiefly known in Paris as being the possessor of some mysterious internal force--call it magnetic, hypnotic, or spiritual, as you please--which, though perfectly inexplicable, was yet plainly manifested and evident to all who placed themselves under your influence. Moreover, that by this force you were able to deal scientifically and practically with the active principle of intelligence in man, to such an extent that you could, in some miraculous way, disentangle the knots of toil and perplexity in an over-taxed brain, and restore to it its pristine vitality and vigor. Is this true? If so, exert your power upon me,--for something, I know not what, has of late frozen up the once overflowing fountain of my thoughts, and I have lost all working ability. When a man can no longer work, it were best he should die, only unfortunately I cannot die unless I kill myself,--which it is possible I may do ere long. But in the meantime,"--he hesitated a moment, then went on, "in the meantime, I have a strong wish to be deluded--I use the word advisedly, and repeat it--DELUDED into an imaginary happiness, though I am aware that as an agnostic and searcher after truth--truth absolute, truth positive--such a desire on my part seems even to myself inconsistent and unreasonable. Still I confess to having it; and therein, I know, I betray the weakness of my nature. It may be that I am tired "--and he passed his hand across his brow with a troubled gesture--"or puzzled by the infinite, incurable distress of all living things. Perhaps I am growing mad!--who knows!--but whatever my condition, you,--if report be correct,--have the magic skill to ravish the mind away from its troubles and transport it to a radiant Elysium of sweet illusions and ethereal ecstasies. Do this for me, as you have done it for others, and whatever payment you demand, whether in gold or gratitude, shall be yours."