At the mention of the dreams Honora had drawn1 away from Shattuck. She was gazing at Kennedy, wide-eyed. Shattuck, too, was following tensely. No less were Doyle and Leslie. Doctor Lathrop leaned forward, his brow wrinkled, as he tugged2 at his beard, impatiently listening.
"Let us take those dreams, without wasting any more time," continued Kennedy. "I do not know how many of you are acquainted with the Freud theory. Mr. Jameson is, by this time. Also Mr. Shattuck. We've seen some of Freud's books in his library. Doctor Leslie knows it, I am sure, and Doctor Lathrop has told me he reacts against many of Freud's theories seriously.
"I shall not attempt to explain the theory, but [288] shall touch on certain phases of my psychanalysis," he remarked, addressing the remark apparently3 to Honora. "Recall that Freud tells us that all dreams are primarily about self in some way or interests close to self. Your first dream and each succeeding dream which I learned, Mrs. Wilford, were, I take it then, about your own relations with your husband."
Honora looked startled, not only at having been singled out, but at the mention of the dreams and the vague thought of what might, after all, have been derived4 from them by this man whom she did not understand.
"The dream of death, the struggle dream, the bull-and-serpent dream, the dream of fire and explosion, all pointed6 to one thing among others, but one thing that was paramount7. Really you did not love your husband—with that deep, passionate8 love which every woman yearns9 to possess. It was not your fault. You were the creature of forces, of circumstances, of feelings which were out of your control. I could have told you more about yourself than you would have admitted—half an hour ago," he qualified10.
It was a delicate and intimate subject, yet Kennedy handled it without a touch of morbidness11.
"From the study of your dreams," he resumed, "as I have already hinted, many other things might have been discovered. One of the next importance to your unconscious feeling toward your husband was shown clearly. It was that you knew that another woman had entered his life."
[289]
Kennedy glanced from her to Doctor Lathrop, and back to Honora.
"Of course, you did not know the whole story—that that woman was merely using your husband as a means to an end. But it would have made no difference if you had. In that she was equally in your way, whether you would have admitted it or not. We can speak frankly12 on this subject now. Vina Lathrop's death has put a different aspect on that phase of the case."
"Oh, I see," interrupted Shattuck, who had been following carefully up to this point, when it suddenly dawned on him that Kennedy's remarks were converging14 on himself and the gossip that had flown far and wide regarding Vina and himself. "I see. You have been reading the French detective tales—eh?—Cherchez la femme?"
Kennedy ignored the interruption. He did not intend to let any such aside destroy the thread of either his thought or his argument.
"Let me delve15 a little deeper in the analysis," he proceeded, calmly. "There was something back of that lack of love, something even deeper than the hurt given by the discovery of his relations with the other woman."
If Shattuck had been minded to pursue the guerrilla conversation in the hope of harassing16 Kennedy, this remark was like an explosion of shrapnel. He sought cover.
Kennedy was talking rapidly and earnestly now.
"In short," he concluded, "there is something [290] which we call a soul scar here—a psychic17 wound—a mental trauma18. It bears the same relation to the soul that a wound does to the body. And, as in the case of some wounds, muscles and limbs do not function and must be re-educated, so in these mental and moral cases feelings and emotions must be made to function again, must be re-educated. I need not refer to what caused that wound. I think we understand the reaction that almost any girl would experience against one whom she loved but considered unworthy. I saw it the moment I began to analyze19 the dreams."
In spite of its intimate nature, Kennedy kept his analysis on almost an impersonal20 level. It was as though he were telling us the results of his study of some new substance that had been submitted to him for his opinion.
"Mrs. Wilford," he went on, speaking rather to us generally now than to her, "married not for love—whatever she may say or even think about it. Yet love—romantic love—was open to her, if she would only let herself go."
I saw that as he proceeded, Shattuck had colored deeply. He knew the origin of this soul wound in her disapproval21 of the life he had led at the time. He shifted restlessly.
"All my psychanalysis, by whatever means I went at it, whether merely by study of the dreams or by having them written out a second time in order to compare the omissions22 and hesitations23, whether by the association test, the day-dreaming [291] when relaxed, or the Jung association word test, all the psychological expedients24 I resorted to, now paying out, as it were, a piece of information, now withholding25 another, and always watching what effect it had upon the various parties to this case, all, I say, tended toward one end—the discovery of the truth that was hidden from us.
"Finally," he exclaimed, "came the time when I allowed Doyle to place a dictagraph in the apartment, where we might overhear the interplay of the forces let loose by the information which I was allowing to leak out in one way or another."
Involuntarily, Honora turned and caught the eye of Shattuck leveled at her. Each looked startled. What had Craig overheard through that dictagraph? The thought was quite evident in both minds.
Honora gripped her chair. Shattuck turned and stared sullenly26 at the man before him.
"To return to the dreams," resumed Kennedy, apparently not noticing this interchange of looks and byplay. "From the hesitations in telling and retelling the dreams, from the changes that were made, from a somewhat similar process in tracing out the more controlled thoughts of the waking state, I found that everything confirmed and amplified27 my original conclusion. True, I did not know all. I may not know all yet. But each time I added to my knowledge until there were so many things that joined up and corroborated28 one another that there was no human possibility left that I was on the wrong track."
[292]
One might have heard a pin drop in the laboratory as Craig held his auditors29 and carried them along, even after the intensity30 of feeling that we had witnessed scarcely a few minutes before.
"I wish I had time to go into the many phases of the dream theories of the modern scientists," he hastened. "For hours, with Mr. Jameson, I have patiently tried to interpret and fit together the strange and fantastic conceptions of the mind when the censorship of consciousness is raised in sleep, veiling things which are as little thought of in your philosophies as you could well imagine.
"For example, nothing in modern psychological science is more amazing, more likely to cause violent dissent31, than the intimate connection that exists between the fundamental passions of love and hate. There is no need of the injunction to love our enemies—in this sense. Very often it happens that those we love may arouse the most intense hate, and that those we hate may exercise a fascination32 over us that we ourselves hasten to repress and refuse to admit. It is curious, but more and more it is coming to be recognized.
"And before I go a step farther," he added, "let me forestall33 what is going to happen in this case as certainly as if I were adding chlorin to sodium34 and were going to derive5 salt. When I touch the deep, true 'complex,' as we psychanalysts call it, I shall expect the very idea to be rejected with scorn and indignation. Thereby35 will the very theory itself be proved. Shattuck, your old rule [293] may work well with the case of a man. But the new rule, the complementary rule, for woman is Cherchez l'homme."
It was not said to Shattuck, however. With clever psychology36 Kennedy aimed the remark full at Honora. She flushed and her eyes blazed defiance37. Scornfully and angrily she cast a withering38 glance at Craig as she drew herself up with dignity.
"Then—you think, your science teaches—that a woman must be a fool—that she does not know with whom she really is in love—that she can really be in love with one whom she—hates?"
There was a flash of satisfaction in Craig's eyes. "Complex," I read it. As for Shattuck, where a moment ago he had scoffed39, he remained to pray, or rather to smile faintly.
"I did not say exactly that," returned Kennedy, "although it may seem that way, if you choose to interpret the intimate relationship of love and hate so. Follow me just a moment. Consciously, she may hate. Education, society, morality, religion—this thing we call civilization—may exert restraints. Unconsciously, though, she may love. The veneer40 of modern society is very thin. I think the experiences the world is going through to-day demonstrate that. Underneath41 there are the deep, basic passions of millions of years. They must be reckoned with. It is better to reckon with them than to be wrecked42 by them. The wonder is, not that they are so strong—but that the veneer covers them so well!"
[294]
Powerfully though as Kennedy was making the presentation of the case, Honora tenaciously43 refused to admit it. Like her sex, when a general proposition was made she immediately made a personal application, found it distasteful, and rejected the proposition.
Still, Kennedy was not dismayed. Nor did he admit defeat, or even checkmating.
For several seconds he paused, then added in a low tone that was almost inaudible, yet in a way that did not call for an answer.
"Could you—be honest, now, with yourself, for you need not say a word aloud—could you always be sure of yourself, after this, in the face of any situation?"
She looked startled at his sudden shift of the argument to the personal ground.
Her ordinarily composed face betrayed everything, though it was averted44 from the rest of us and could be seen only fully13 by Kennedy.
In the welter of passion, as one fact after another had been torn forth45 during the moments since she had come to the laboratory, much had happened to Honora which never before had entered her well-ordered, conservative life.
She knew the truth that she strove to repress. She was afraid of herself. And she knew that he knew.
The defiance in her eyes died slowly.
"It is dangerous," she murmured, "to be with a person who pays attention to such little things. If [295] every one were like you, I would no longer breathe a syllable46 of my dreams!"
She was sobbing47 now.
What was back of it all? I had heard of the so-called resolution dreams. I had heard of dreams that kill, of unconscious murder, of terrible acts of the somnambulist, of temporary insanity48, of many deeds of which the doer had no recollection in the waking state, until put under hypnotism.
Could it be such a thing which Kennedy was driving at disclosing?
I cast a hasty glance about at our little audience. Doyle was hushed, now. This was far beyond him. Leslie was deeply interested. Doctor Lathrop had moved closer to Honora on the other side of Shattuck, as if to reassure49 her.
Kennedy, too, was studying attentively50 the effect of his revelation both on Honora and the others.
Honora, her shoulders bent51 with the outpouring of the long-suppressed emotion of the examination, called for sympathy.
Shattuck saw it, saw the distress52 she so plainly showed.
"Kennedy," he exclaimed, unable to restrain himself longer, pushing aside Doctor Lathrop, as he placed himself between her and the man whom he regarded now as her tormentor53, "Kennedy—you are a faker—nothing but a damned dream doctor—in scientific disguise."
"Perhaps," smiled Kennedy, unaffected by the [296] threat. "But let me finish. Then you may think differently."
He turned deliberately54 from Shattuck to the rest of us.
"What happened at that office the fatal night was this," he shot out. "There was a woman there. But from what I deduce, it was not Honora Wilford. It must have been Vina Lathrop!"
I felt a shock of surprise. Yet, after all, I had to admit that there was nothing improbable about it.
"Later," he resumed, "someone else did enter that office. In all probability that person did hold up Vail Wilford, with a gun perhaps, just about as we have heard described. The Calabar bean was cut in half, undoubtedly55. You will see from the facts in the case that it must have been so. Probably, too, each wrote a suicide note—on the typewriter—either to save the survivor56, or at the dictation of the person who survived. Each must have eaten half of the bean.
"But," added Kennedy, impressively, "it was no duel57 by poison—really. That other person knew the antidote58—knew that the antidote was atropin—came prepared. That other person deliberately put atropin in his own glass of water, knowing that it was the antidote. No, it was no duel. It was murder—plain murder!"
As he finished, Kennedy's voice rang out sharply and decisively in a direct accusation59.
"As for you, Doyle," he added, catching60 the eye of the detective, "you put your money on the wrong [297] horse, as you would say. You thought that in my constant examination of Mrs. Wilford I coincided with your superficial observation. But I had another purpose, a very different purpose."
Kennedy stopped a moment to turn from Doyle to the woman Doyle had persecuted61. Honora and Shattuck were again close together, watching Kennedy intently, oblivious62 of all but themselves and him.
It gave me a start to see them as they were now. Honora and the man she really loved were united at last. In his face I could see a far different kind of Shattuck, as though the fire of the ordeal63 had purified him.
I caught a look of satisfaction that crossed Craig's face. He had succeeded. Back of all, I now saw that Kennedy had had all along a very human intention.
Quickly I sought to explain what had already taken place only a few moments before. Had Shattuck lied to save her, when he saw that Doyle was framing a case against her? If that were so, then had she, with her quick wit, come to the rescue, with a marvelously constructed story that fitted perfectly64 with that which he had told and had broken down in telling? Had Shattuck and Honora, cornered, as they thought by Doyle, leaped at any suggestion?
But the truth—what was it?
Kennedy was speaking again, and now all hung on each word.
"The stuff that dreams are made of is very real, [298] after all," he remarked. "Just take this case itself. Suppose some one, who understood better than Honora Wilford, learned of her dreams—interpreted them—found out the truth about her relations with another—found out, as I have done, what she herself did not know—and then acted on the information.
"Suppose that person knew of the soul scar, the old wound, knew from the dreams the conflict between the various persons—and encouraged the dream actors—in real life. Suppose, too, that that person, learning of what Vail Wilford was doing, had a personal grievance—a spite—a desire for bitter revenge."
As Kennedy built up his hypothetical case I became more and more enthralled65 by it. It was more than hypothesis now.
"The sphygmograph," he resumed, "has told me just what I still needed to know, even while you all have been here, perhaps forgetful of the little telltale that has been attached to your wrists. It is a faithful recorder of emotions, if you know how to study it. What is hidden from the eye the heart reveals. This heart machine will record it, betray the inmost secrets."
Kennedy drew himself up slowly, as though to impress forcefully what he was about to add.
"Psychanalysis," he exclaimed, "has led through Honora's soul scar to the discovery of the truth by the aid of this little lie-detector. It was your revenge on Vail Wilford—Lathrop!"
[299]
Harshly Lathrop laughed, as though he had sensed the coming of the accusation all along.
I took a step toward him, and as I did so something about his eyes almost halted me. The pupils were strangely contracted. I did not recall having noticed it before, certainly not when he came in.
Again he laughed harshly. With a shaking hand he reached into his pocket and drew forth something. I saw instantly that it was a Calabar bean.
He was about to place it in his mouth when Craig leaped and struck it from his hand. Honora screamed as Lathrop reeled back into his chair.
Instantly Shattuck's arm stole about her solicitously66 as she shrank from the shaking figure in the chair near by. Her hand stole into his.
"No cheating justice, Lathrop!" exclaimed Kennedy, seizing his wrist, which was already clammy.
He smiled faintly, and his lips moved with an effort.
"I did—what I did. It's too late for atropin now!"
THE END
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1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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yearns
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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morbidness
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| （精神的）病态 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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15
delve
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| v.深入探究，钻研 | |
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harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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trauma
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| n.外伤，精神创伤 | |
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analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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impersonal
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| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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omissions
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| n.省略( omission的名词复数 )；删节；遗漏；略去或漏掉的事（或人） | |
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hesitations
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| n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 )；踌躇；犹豫（之事或行为）；口吃 | |
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expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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amplified
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| 放大，扩大( amplify的过去式和过去分词 )； 增强； 详述 | |
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corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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forestall
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| vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止 | |
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sodium
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| n.（化）钠 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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veneer
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| n.(墙上的)饰面，虚饰 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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43
tenaciously
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| 坚持地 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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47
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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49
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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51
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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52
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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tormentor
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| n. 使苦痛之人, 使苦恼之物, 侧幕 =tormenter | |
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54
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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56
survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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57
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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58
antidote
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| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
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59
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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60
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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61
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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enthralled
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| 迷住，吸引住( enthrall的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到非常愉快 | |
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solicitously
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| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
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