"
"Imagination," Valentine said, rather abruptly. "All imagination. Wasn't
it, doctor?"
"Probably," Levillier said. "Darkness certainly makes things visible that
do not exist. I have patients who are perfectly sane, yet whom I forbid
ever to be entirely in the dark. Remove all objects from their sight, and
they immediately see non-existent things."
"You think that flame came only from my inner consciousness?" Julian
asked.
"I suspect so. Shut your eyes now."
Julian did so. Doctor Levillier bent over and pressed his two forefingers
hard on Julian's eyes. After a moment,
"What do you see?" he asked.
"Nothing," Julian replied.
"Wait a little longer. Now what do you see?"
"Now I see a broad ring of yellow light edged with ragged purple."
"Exactly. You see flame-colour."
He removed his fingers and Julian opened his eyes.
"Yes," he said. "But that cry. I most distinctly heard it."
"Imitate it."
"That would be impossible. It was too strange. Are the ears affected by
darkness?"
"The sense of hearing is intimately affected by suspense. If you do not
listen attentively you may fail to hear a sound that is. If you listen
too attentively you may succeed in hearing a sound that is not.
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