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utterly the solid wall of sense； and probably； for the first time since man
was made； a spirit will gaze on a spirit…world。 Clarke； Mary will see the
god Pan！〃
〃But you remember what you wrote to me？ I thought it would be
requisite that she〃
He whispered the rest into the doctor's ear。
〃Not at all； not at all。 That is nonsense。 I assure you。 Indeed； it is
better as it is； I am quite certain of that。〃
〃Consider the matter well； Raymond。 It's a great responsibility。
Something might go wrong； you would be a miserable man for the rest of
your days。〃
〃No； I think not； even if the worst happened。 As you know； I rescued
Mary from the gutter； and from almost certain starvation； when she was a
child； I think her life is mine； to use as I see fit。 Come； it's getting late；
we had better go in。〃
Dr。 Raymond led the way into the house； through the hall； and down a
long dark passage。 He took a key from his pocket and opened a heavy
door； and motioned Clarke into his laboratory。 It had once been a
billiard…room； and was lighted by a glass dome in the centre of the ceiling；
whence there still shone a sad grey light on the figure of the doctor as he
lit a lamp with a heavy shade and placed it on a table in the middle of the
room。
Clarke looked about him。 Scarcely a foot of wall remained bare；
there were shelves all around laden with bottles and phials of all shapes
and colours； and at one end stood a little Chippendale book…case。
Raymond pointed to this。
〃You see that parchment Oswald Crollius？ He was one of the first to
show me the way； though I don't think he ever found it himself。 That is a
strange saying of his： 'In every grain of wheat there lies hidden the soul of
a star。'〃
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There was not much furniture in the laboratory。 The table in the
centre； a stone slab with a drain in one corner； the two armchairs on which
Raymond and Clarke were sitting； that was all； except an odd…looking
chair at the furthest end of the room。 Clarke looked at it； and raised his
eyebrows。
〃Yes； that is the chair；〃 said Raymond。 〃We may as well place it in
position。〃 He got up and wheeled the chair to the light； and began raising
and lowering it； letting down the seat； setting the back at various angles；
and adjusting the foot…rest。 It looked comfortable enough； and Clarke
passed his hand over the soft green velvet； as the doctor manipulated the
levers。
〃Now； Clarke； make yourself quite comfortable。 I have a couple
hours' work before me； I was obliged to leave certain matters to the last。〃
Raymond went to the stone slab； and Clarke watched him drearily as
he bent over a row of phials and lit the flame under the crucible。 The
doctor had a small hand…lamp； shaded as the larger one； on a ledge above
his apparatus； and Clarke； who sat in the shadows； looked down at the
great shadowy room； wondering at the bizarre effects of brilliant light and
undefined darkness contrasting with one another。 Soon he became
conscious of an odd odour； at first the merest suggestion of odour； in the
room； and as it grew more decided he felt surprised that he was not
reminded of the chemist's shop or the surgery。 Clarke found himself idly
endeavouring to analyse the sensation； and half conscious； he began to
think of a day； fifteen years ago； that he had spent roaming through the
woods and meadows near his own home。 It was a burning day at the
beginning of August； the heat had dimmed the outlines of all things and all
distances with a faint mist； and people who observed the thermometer
spoke of an abnormal register； of a temperature that was almost tropical。
Strangely that wonderful hot day of the fifties rose up again in Clarke's
imagination； the sense of dazzling all…pervading sunlight seemed to blot
out the shadows and the lights of the laboratory； and he felt again the
heated air beating in gusts about his face； saw the shimmer rising from the
turf； and heard the myriad murmur of the summer。
〃I hope the smell doesn't annoy you； Clarke； there's nothing
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THE GREAT GOD PAN
unwholesome about it。 It may make you a bit sleepy； that's all。〃
Clarke heard the words quite distinctly； and knew that Raymond was
speaking to him； but for the life of him he could not rouse himself from his
lethargy。 He could only think of the lonely walk he had taken fifteen
years ago； it was his last look at the fields and woods he had known since
he was a child； and now it all stood out in brilliant light； as a picture；
before him。 Above all there came to his nostrils the scent of summer； the
smell of flowers mingled； and the odour of the woods； of cool shaded
places； deep in the green depths； drawn forth by the sun's heat； and the
scent of the good earth； lying as it were with arms stretched forth； and
smiling lips； overpowered all。 His fancies made him wander； as he had
wandered long ago； from the fields into the wood； tracking a little path
between the shining undergrowth of beech…trees； and the trickle of water
dropping from the limestone rock sounded as a clear melody in the dream。
Thoughts began to go astray and to mingle with other thoughts； the beech
alley was transformed to a path between ilex…trees； and here and there a
vine climbed from bough to bough； and sent up waving tendrils and
drooped with purple grapes； and the sparse grey…green leaves of a wild
olive…tree stood out against the dark shadows of the ilex。 Clarke； in the
deep folds of dream； was conscious that the path from his father's house
had led him into an undiscovered country； and he was wondering at the
strangeness of it all； when suddenly； in place of the hum and murmur of
the summer； an infinite silence seemed to fall on all things； and the wood
was hushed； and for a moment in time he stood face to face there with a
presence； that was neither man nor beast； neither the living nor the dead；
but all things mingled； the form of all things but devoid of all form。 And
in that moment； the sacrament of body and soul was dissolved； and a voice
seemed to cry 〃Let us go hence；〃 and then the darkness of darkness
beyond the stars； the darkness of everlasting。
When Clarke woke up with a start he saw Raymond pouring a few
drops of some oily fluid into a green phial； which he stoppered tightly。
〃You have been dozing；〃 he said； 〃the journey must have tired you out。
It is done now。 I am going to fetch Mary； I shall be back in ten minutes。〃
Clarke lay back in his chair and wondered。 It seemed as if he had but
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THE GREAT GOD PAN
passed from one dream into another。 He half expected to see the walls of
the laboratory melt and disappear； and to awake in London； shuddering at
his own sleeping fancies。 But at last the door opened； and the doctor
returned； and behind him came a girl of about seventeen； dressed all in
white。 She was so beautiful that Clarke did not wonder at what the
doctor had written to him。 She was blushing now over face and neck and
arms； but Raymond seemed unmoved。
〃Mary；〃 he said； 〃the time has come。 You are quite free。 Are you
willing to trust yourself to me entirely？〃
〃Yes； dear。〃
〃Do you hear that； Clarke？ You are my witness。 Here is the chair；
Mary。 It is quite easy。 Just sit in it and lean back。 Are you ready？〃
〃Yes； dear； quite ready。 Give me a kiss before you begin。〃
The doctor stooped and