He takes up his hat and cane. Pardon me, count, but I can remain here no longer; I am forced now to visit a patient whom I am to couch for cataract. THE MAN. For God's sake, do not desert us! PHYSICIAN. Perhaps you have some curiosity to know the name of this malady?... THE MAN. Speak! is there no hope? PHYSICIAN. It is called, from the Greek, _amaurosis_. Exit Physician. THE MAN (_pressing his son to his heart_). But you can still see a little, George? GEORGE. I can _hear your voice_, father! THE MAN. Try if you can see. Look out of the window; the sun is shining brightly, the sky is clear. GEORGE. I see crowds of forms circling between the pupils of my eyes and my eyelids--faces I have often seen before, the leaves of books I have read before.... THE MAN. Then you really do still see? GEORGE. Yes, with the _eyes of my spirit--but the eyes of my body have gone out forever_. THE MAN (_falls on his knees as if to pray; pauses, and exclaims bitterly_:) Before _whom_ shall I kneel--to whom pray--to whom complain of the unjust doom crushing my innocent child? He rises from his knees. It is best to bear all in silence--God laughs at our prayers--Satan mocks at our curses-- A VOICE. But thy son is a Poet--and what wouldst thou more? * * * * * The Physician and Godfather. GODFATHER. It is certainly a great misfortune to be blind. PHYSICIAN. And at his age a very unusual one. GODFATHER. His frame was always very fragile, and his mother died somewhat--so--so ... PHYSICIAN. How did she die? GODFATHER. A little so ... you understand ... not quite in her right mind. THE MAN (_entering_). I pray you, pardon my intrusion at so late an hour, but for the last night or two my son has wakened up at twelve o'clock, left his bed, and talked in his sleep. Will you have the kindness to follow me, and watch him to-night? PHYSICIAN. I will go to him immediately; I am very much interested in the observation of such phenomena. * * * * * Relations, Godfather, Physician, the Man, a Nurse--assembled in the sleeping apartment of George Stanislaus. FIRST RELATION. Hush! hush! be quiet! SECOND RELATION. He is awake, but neither sees nor hears us. PHYSICIAN. I beg that you will all remain perfectly silent. GODFATHER. This seems to be a most extraordinary malady. GEORGE (_rising from his seat_). God! O God! FIRST RELATION. How lightly he treads! SECOND RELATION. Look! he clasps his thin hands across his breast. THIRD RELATION. His eyelids are motionless; he does not move his lips, but what a sharp and thrilling shriek! NURSE. Christ, shield him! GEORGE. Depart from me, Darkness! I am a child of light and song, and what hast thou to do with me? What dost thou desire from me?