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Rappaccini's Daughter
Buttheprofessordidnotrespondwithsomuchcordialityashehadanticipated.
"Illwoulditbecomeateacherofthedivineartofmedicine,"saidProfessorPietroBaglioni,inanswertoaquestionofGiovanni,"towithholddueandwell-consideredpraiseofaphysiciansoeminentlyskilledasRappaccini;but,ontheotherhand,IshouldansweritbutscantilytomyconsciencewereItopermitaworthyyouthlikeyourself,SignorGiovanni,thesonofanancientfriend,toimbibeerroneousideasrespectingamanwhomighthereafterchancetoholdyourlifeanddeathinhishands.Thetruthis,ourworshipfulDr.Rappaccinihasasmuchscienceasanymemberofthefaculty—withperhapsonesingleexception—inPadua,orallItaly;buttherearecertaingraveobjectionstohisprofessionalcharacter."
"Andwhatarethey?"askedtheyoungman.
"HasmyfriendGiovannianydiseaseofbodyorheart,thatheissoinquisitiveaboutphysicians?"saidtheprofessor,withasmile."ButasforRappaccini,itissaidofhim—andI,whoknowthemanwell,cananswerforitstruth—thathecaresinfinitelymoreforsciencethanformankind.Hispatientsareinterestingtohimonlyassubjectsforsomenewexperiment.Hewouldsacrificehumanlife,hisownamongtherest,orwhateverelsewasdearesttohim,forthesakeofaddingsomuchasagrainofmustardseedtothegreatheapofhisaccumulatedknowledge."
"Methinksheisanawfulmanindeed,"remarkedGuasconti,mentallyrecallingthecoldandpurelyintellectualaspectofRappaccini.
