"It is not that so much," answered Paul, "as the regret I feel at
having left it all behind. When a man has only just begun to
experience the sensation of life--of real life--to find himself
suddenly plunged back into a dungeon with chains upon his shoulders,
you must admit the shock is terrible."
"Do I not know it?" answered the old man feelingly. "The return is
far more to be dreaded than the escape into that life which you were
at first inclined to call unreal; and yet, Mr. Henley, you must admit
that it is difficult to decide the question of reality between the
two worlds."
"True," answered Paul; "and yet I know that what I have just seen can
be nothing else than a hypnotic vision; it is impossible it should be
otherwise, for it has gone--and beyond my power to recall. What
amazes me to the point of stupefaction is the marvelous impression of
truth with which hypnotism can fill one. I had always imagined the
effect was more in the nature of a dream, but this was vivid, sharp,
and perfect as the everyday life about me. I am more bewildered than
I have words to express."
"And yet," answered Ah Ben, "you still insist that the things you saw
were unreal, because, as you say, they were the result of hypnotism.
It seems difficult to convince you of what I have already told you,
that hypnotism is not a cause of hallucination, but of fact. You
insist that because the minority of men only are subjected to
hypnotic tests, the impressions produced must be false. You will not
admit that a minority has any claim to a hearing, although their
evidence is based upon precisely the same testimony as that of the
majority--namely, the five senses. You have no better right to assume
that your present surroundings are any more truthfully reported by
your senses than those of your recent experience. You see, you hear
and touch; did you not do the same in Levachan?"
"I did, indeed," answered Paul, "and with a clearness that makes it
the more difficult to comprehend; still, of course, I know that the
vision of Levachan was a deception, while this is real!"
"And because you are convinced that a majority of men would see this
as you see it. What if it should be proved that you are wrong?"
"That would be impossible," answered Paul.
"You think so, indeed," answered the old man with a strange look in
his eyes; "and yet, if you will look above you and about you, you
will see for the first time the way in which this old house looks to
the great majority of mankind--indeed, to such a vast majority, Mr.
Henley--that your individual testimony to the contrary would be
regarded as the ravings of a madman. Look!"