Perhaps that is what wearies me at moments, doctor, the completeness of my coldness.

Perhaps it is this lack of necessity to struggle that has at last begun to render me dissatisfied." "I thought you were free from that evil humour of dissatisfaction, that evil humour which crowds my consulting-rooms and wastes away the very tissues of the body." "I have been, until quite lately.

I have been neither pessimist nor optimist--just myself, and I believe happy." "And what is this change?
and what has it led to ?" "It was to tell you that I asked you here to-night." They had finished dinner, and rose from the table.

Passing through the hall of the club, they went into a huge high room, papered with books.
Valentine led the way to a secluded corner, and gave the doctor a cigar.
When he had lit it and settled himself comfortably, his rather small feet, in their marvellously polished boots, lightly crossed, his head reposing serenely on the back of his chair, Valentine continued, answering his attentive silence.
"It has led to what I suppose you would call an absurdity.

But first, the change itself.