Серце темряви

           Hebecameverycoolandcollectedallatonce.‘IamnotsuchafoolasIlook,quothPlatotohisdisciples,’hesaidsententiously,emptiedhisglasswithgreatresolution,andwerose.

           "Theolddoctorfeltmypulse,evidentlythinkingofsomethingelsethewhile.‘Good,goodforthere,’hemumbled,andthenwithacertaineagernessaskedmewhetherIwouldlethimmeasuremyhead.Rathersurprised,IsaidYes,whenheproducedathinglikecalipersandgotthedimensionsbackandfrontandeveryway,takingnotescarefully.Hewasanunshavenlittlemaninathreadbarecoatlikeagaberdine,withhisfeetinslippers,andIthoughthimaharmlessfool.‘Ialwaysaskleave,intheinterestsofscience,tomeasurethecraniaofthosegoingoutthere,’hesaid.‘Andwhentheycomeback,too?’Iasked.‘Oh,Ineverseethem,’heremarked;‘and,moreover,thechangestakeplaceinside,youknow.’Hesmiled,asifatsomequietjoke.‘Soyouaregoingoutthere.Famous.Interesting,too.’Hegavemeasearchingglance,andmadeanothernote.‘Everanymadnessinyourfamily?’heasked,inamatter-of-facttone.Ifeltveryannoyed.‘Isthatquestionintheinterestsofscience,too?’‘Itwouldbe,’hesaid,withouttakingnoticeofmyirritation,‘interestingforsciencetowatchthementalchangesofindividuals,onthespot,but...’‘Areyouanalienist?’Iinterrupted.‘Everydoctorshouldbe—alittle,’answeredthatoriginal,imperturbably.