The Great Keinplatz Experiment and Other Tales of Twilight and the UnseenDoyle, Arthur Conan
General
The Great Keinplatz Experiment and Other Tales of Twilight and the Unseen
Doyle, Arthur Conan
Fiction; Short stories, English
As the spirit of Von Baumgarten encased in the body of Von Hartmann
strode down the winding pathway which led down to the little town,
brooding angrily over his many wrongs, he became aware that an elderly
man was approaching him who appeared to be in an advanced state of
intoxication. Von Hartmann waited by the side of the road and watched
this individual, who came stumbling along, reeling from one side of the
road to the other, and singing a student song in a very husky and
drunken voice. At first his interest was merely excited by the fact of
seeing a man of so venerable an appearance in such a disgraceful
condition, but as he approached nearer, he became convinced that he knew
the other well, though he could not recall when or where he had met him.
This impression became so strong with him, that when the stranger came
abreast of him he stepped in front of him and took a good look at his
features.
“Well, sonny,” said the drunken man, surveying Von Hartmann and swaying
about in front of him, “where the Henker have I seen you before? I know
you as well as I know myself. Who the deuce are you?”
“I am Professor von Baumgarten,” said the student. “May I ask who you
are? I am strangely familiar with your features.”
“You should never tell lies, young man,” said the other. “You’re
certainly not the Professor, for he is an ugly snuffy old chap, and you
are a big broad-shouldered young fellow. As to myself, I am Fritz von
Hartmann at your service.”
“That you certainly are not,” exclaimed the body of Von Hartmann. “You
might very well be his father. But hullo, sir, are you aware that you
are wearing my studs and my watch-chain?”
“Donnerwetter!” hiccoughed the other. “If those are not the trousers for
which my tailor is about to sue me, may I never taste beer again.”
Now as Von Hartmann, overwhelmed by the many strange things which had
occurred to him that day, passed his hand over his forehead and cast his
eyes downwards, he chanced to catch the reflection of his own face in a
pool which the rain had left upon the road. To his utter astonishment he
perceived that his face was that of a youth, that his dress was that of
a fashionable young student, and that in every way he was the antithesis
of the grave and scholarly figure in which his mind was wont to dwell.
In an instant his active brain ran over the series of events which had
occurred and sprang to the conclusion. He fairly reeled under the blow.
“Himmel!” he cried, “I see it all. Our souls are in the wrong bodies. I
am you and you are I. My theory is proved--but at what an expense! Is
the most scholarly mind in Europe to go about with this frivolous
exterior? Oh the labours of a lifetime are ruined!” and he smote his
breast in his despair.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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