For three days the Laboratory at South Kensington saw nothing of Lagune, and then he came back more invincibly1 voluble than ever. Everyone had expected him to return apostate2, but he brought back an invigorated faith, a propaganda unashamed. From some source he had derived3 strength and conviction afresh. Even the rhetorical Smithers availed nothing. There was a joined battle over the insufficient4 tea-cups, and the elderly young assistant demonstrator hovered5 on the verge6 of the discussion, rejoicing, it is supposed, over the entanglements7 of Smithers. For at the outset Smithers displayed an overweening confidence and civility, and at the end his ears were red and his finer manners lost to him.
Lewisham, it was remarked by Miss Heydinger, made but a poor figure in this discussion. Once or twice he seemed about to address Lagune, and thought better of it with the words upon his lips.
Lagune's treatment of the exposure was light and vigorous. "The man Chaffery," he said, "has made a clean breast of it. His point of view--"
"Facts are facts," said Smithers.
"A fact is a synthesis of impressions," said Lagune; "but that you will learn when you are older. The thing is that we were at cross purposes. I told Chaffery you were beginners. He treated you as beginners--arranged a demonstration8."
"It _was_ a demonstration," said Smithers.
"Precisely9. If it had not been for your interruptions ..."
"Ah!"
"He forged elementary effects ..."
"You can't but admit that."
"I don't attempt to deny it. But, as he explained, the thing is necessary--justifiable. Psychic10 phenomena11 are subtle, a certain training of the observation is necessary. A medium is a more subtle instrument than a balance or a borax bead12, and see how long it is before you can get assured results with a borax bead! In the elementary class, in the introductory phase, conditions are too crude...."
"For honesty."
"Wait a moment. _Is_ it dishonest--rigging a demonstration?"
"Of course it is."
"Your professors do it."
"I deny that in toto," said Smithers, and repeated with satisfaction, "in toto."
"That's all right," said Lagune, "because I have the facts. Your chemical lecturers--you may go downstairs now and ask, if you disbelieve me--always cheat over the indestructibility of matter experiment--always. And then another--a physiography thing. You know the experiment I mean? To demonstrate the existence of the earth's rotation13. They use--they use--"
"Foucault's pendulum14," said Lewisham. "They use a rubber ball with a pin-hole hidden in the hand, and blow the pendulum round the way it ought to go."
"But that's different," said Smithers.
"Wait a moment," said Lagune, and produced a piece of folded printed paper from his pocket. "Here is a review from _Nature_ of the work of no less a person than Professor Greenhill. And see--a convenient pin is introduced in the apparatus15 for the demonstration of virtual velocities16! Read it--if you doubt me. I suppose you doubt me."
Smithers abruptly17 abandoned his position of denial "in toto." "This isn't my point, Mr. Lagune; this isn't my point," he said. "These things that are done in the lecture theatre are not to prove facts, but to give ideas."
"So was my demonstration," said Lagune.
"We didn't understand it in that light."
"Nor does the ordinary person who goes to Science lectures understand it in that light. He is comforted by the thought that he is seeing things with his own eyes."
"Well, I don't care," said Smithers; "two wrongs don't make a right. To rig demonstrations18 is wrong."
"There I agree with you. I have spoken plainly with this man Chaffery. He's not a full-blown professor, you know, a highly salaried ornament19 of the rock of truth like your demonstration-rigging professors here, and so I can speak plainly to him without offence. He takes quite the view they would take. But I am more rigorous. I insist that there shall be no more of this...."
"Next time--" said Smithers with irony20.
"There will be no next time. I have done with elementary exhibitions. You must take the word of the trained observer--just as you do in the matter of chemical analysis."
"Do you mean you are going on with that chap when he's been caught cheating under your very nose?"
"Certainly. Why not?"
Smithers set out to explain why not, and happened on confusion. "I still believe the man has powers," said Lagune.
"Of deception," said Smithers.
"Those I must eliminate," said Lagune. "You might as well refuse to study electricity because it escaped through your body. All new science is elusive21. No investigator22 in his senses would refuse to investigate a compound because it did unexpected things. Either this dissolves in acid or I have nothing more to do with it--eh? That's fine research!"
Then it was the last vestiges23 of Smithers' manners vanished. "I don't care _what_ you say," said Smithers. "It's all rot--it's all just rot. Argue if you like--but have you convinced anybody? Put it to the vote."
"That's democracy with a vengeance," said Lagune. "A general election of the truth half-yearly, eh?"
"That's simply wriggling24 out of it," said Smithers. "That hasn't anything to do with it at all."
Lagune, flushed but cheerful, was on his way downstairs when Lewisham overtook him. He was pale and out of breath, but as the staircase invariably rendered Lagune breathless he did not remark the younger man's disturbance25. "Interesting talk," panted Lewisham. "Very interesting talk, sir."
"I'm glad you found it so--very," said Lagune.
There was a pause, and then Lewisham plunged26 desperately27. "There is a young lady--she is your typewriter...."
He stopped from sheer loss of breath.
"Yes?" said Lagune.
"Is she a medium or anything of that sort?"
"Well," Lagune reflected, "She is not a medium, certainly. But--why do you ask?"
"Oh!... I wondered."
"You noticed her eyes perhaps. She is the stepdaughter of that man Chaffery--a queer character, but indisputably mediumistic. It's odd the thing should have struck you. Curiously28 enough I myself have fancied she might be something of a psychic--judging from her face."
"A what?"
"A psychic--undeveloped, of course. I have thought once or twice. Only a little while ago I was speaking to that man Chaffery about her."
"Were you?"
"Yes. He of course would like to see any latent powers developed. But it's a little difficult to begin, you know."
"You mean--she won't?"
"Not at present. She is a good girl, but in this matter she is--timid. There is often a sort of disinclination--a queer sort of feeling--one might almost call it modesty29."
"I see," said Lewisham.
"One can override30 it usually. I don't despair."
"No," said Lewisham shortly. They were at the foot of the staircase now. He hesitated. "You've given me a lot to think about," he said with an attempt at an off-hand manner. "The way you talked upstairs;" and turned towards the book he had to sign.
"I'm glad you don't take up quite such an intolerant attitude as Mr. Smithers," said Lagune; "very glad. I must lend you a book or two. If your _cramming_ here leaves you any time, that is."
"Thanks," said Lewisham shortly, and walked away from him. The studiously characteristic signature quivered and sprawled31 in an unfamiliar32 manner.
"I'm _damned_ if he overrides33 it," said Lewisham, under his breath.
收听单词发音 |
1
invincibly
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| adv.难战胜地，无敌地 | |
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apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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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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4
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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entanglements
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| n.瓜葛( entanglement的名词复数 )；牵连；纠缠；缠住 | |
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8
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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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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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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rotation
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| n.旋转；循环，轮流 | |
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pendulum
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| n.摆，钟摆 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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velocities
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| n.速度( velocity的名词复数 )；高速，快速 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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elusive
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| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
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investigator
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| n.研究者，调查者，审查者 | |
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vestiges
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| 残余部分( vestige的名词复数 )； 遗迹； 痕迹； 毫不 | |
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wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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30
override
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| vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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overrides
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| 越控( override的第三人称单数 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要 | |
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