第10章

"And probably didn't believe in it; and quite right, too.The thing as practised by ignorant charlatans is unworthy of attention or respect-where there's a dim light and a dark cabinet, and a parcel of sentimental gulls gathered together, with their faith and their shudders and their tears all ready, and one and the same fatty degeneration of protoplasm and humbug comes out and materializes himself into anybody you want, grandmother, grandchild, brother-in-law, Witch of Endor, John Milton, Siamese twins, Peter the Great, and all such frantic nonsense--no, that is all foolish and pitiful.But when a man that is competent brings the vast powers of science to bear, it's a different matter, a totally different matter, you see.The spectre that answers that call has come to stay.Do you note the commercial value of that detail?""Well, I--the--the truth is, that I don't quite know that I do.Do you mean that such, being permanent, not transitory, would give more general satisfaction, and so enhance the price--of tickets to the show--""Show? Folly--listen to me; and get a good grip on your breath, for you are going to need it.Within three days I shall have completed my method, and then--let the world stand aghast, for it shall see marvels.

Washington, within three days--ten at the outside--you shall see me call the dead of any century, and they will arise and walk.Walk?--they shall walk forever, and never die again.Walk with all the muscle and spring of their pristine vigor.""Colonel! Indeed it does take one's breath away.""Now do you see the money that's in it?"

"I'm--well, I'm--not really sure that I do."Great Scott, look here.I shall have a monopoly; they'll all belong to me, won't they? Two thousand policemen in the city of New York.Wages, four dollars a day.I'll replace them with dead ones at half the money.

"Oh, prodigious! I never thought of that.F-o-u-r thousand dollars a day.Now I do begin to see! But will dead policemen answer?""Haven't they--up to this time?"

"Well, if you put it that way--"