525: Chapter 275: Special Treatnt for Sudden Serious Illness 525: Chapter 275: Special Treatnt for Sudden Serious Illness The laboratory was quite spacious, and its furnishings were very simple; aside from a Faraday cage, there was nothing else.
However, it is possible that this room wasn’t always so austere.
At least from the unburned fabric ashes beneath the window sill, it would seem that curtains once hung there.
Inside the Faraday cage, a laboratory table was placed squarely in the center, surrounded by various materials and components used for experints.
As for the central figure of our narrative, Mr.
Charles Wheatstone’s attire today was much more distinctive than usual.
The strong electric current caused an electronic breeze to blow through the cage, fluffing Wheatstone’s hair so that it seed to stand up, strand by strand.
This typically bespectacled British gentleman was far from his usual quiet and reserved self.
He was clutching a resistor in one hand and an amter in the other, and one foot rested on a stool as he laughed uncontrollably at the onlookers.
“Son of a whore!
If you’ve got the balls, co over here!
Don’t say I didn’t warn you, not even God could pull out of this cage today!”
Great Dumas and the others were shocked and speechless, unable to comprehend how the mild-mannered Mr.
Wheatstone could engage in such conduct.
Where on earth did that shy, four-eyed lad go?
Arthur was silent for a mont, removed his pipe, and exhaled a plu of smoke.
He turned to the apprentice next to him and asked, “How long has Mr.
Wheatstone been exhibiting these symptoms?”
The apprentice, rubbing his temple with a pained expression, replied, “About a week, I reckon.
Ever since he discovered this cage, he’s never been at peace.”
Another apprentice sighed, “The dical journals all say that hysterical neurosis is sothing only ladies suffer from.
But from what we’re seeing, it appears the doctors were mistaken; gentlen, too, can fall prey to this malady.”
“Hysterical neurosis?” Great Dumas exclaid in surprise, “Mr.
Wheatstone has contracted this illness?
This…
This is truly unfortunate.”
The apprentice nodded and said, “Just a few days ago, we even had doctors from Bethlem Royal Hospital co to have a look.
At that ti, the doctors thought that Mr.
Wheatstone might just be under a great deal of ntal stress and would recover after so care.
However, rather than improving over the past few days, his case has intensified.
Every morning, he locks himself in the cage and doesn’t co out until after we’ve gone to bed.
He curses at anyone who passes by the lab.
This morning, we couldn’t stand it any longer and so we notified the staff at Bethlem Royal Hospital.
They’ve sent a few carriages to and from the Royal Society, but no matter what, we couldn’t coax Mr.
Wheatstone out of the cage.”
Upon hearing this, Wheatstone imdiately widened his eyes in fury, shouting, “Bullshit!
I’ve never been ill; I’m in an unprecedentedly good condition now!
You are the ones who are sick, all of you are fucking sick!”
With a sigh, the apprentice said, “See, gentlen, he’s started again.”
Upon witnessing this scene, Louis’s expression beca rather peculiar.
In recent tis, in order to keep up with the pace of investigations at Scotland Yard, he had self-taught a great deal of dical knowledge.
Naturally, he was acquainted with hysterical neurosis, a condition doctors deed to be highly prevalent.
Discreetly, Louis inquired, “I heard that the treatnt for ladies with hysterical neurosis usually involves…
well…
the doctor physically assisting them to relieve ntal stress.
Typically, they would first ask the husband to attempt it, and if that proved ineffective, they would then turn to a professional like the doctor.
But in the case of a gentleman falling ill…
may I presu to ask, what exactly does Bethlem Royal Hospital intend to do to treat Mr.
Wheatstone?”
At that, Great Dumas, being an old hand at the ga of love and a seasoned French bon vivant, clapped his hands as he had an epiphany, “No wonder Mr.
Wheatstone has co down with such a vile sickness.
After all this while, it turns out it’s an issue of frustration!
Indeed, great minds think alike.
Although I possess only so knowledge of battlefield first aid and lack the experience of diagnosing dical conditions, I had suggested to Mr.
Wheatstone before his outbreak that a man like him indeed needs the nourishnt of love.”
Heine, standing nearby, spoke with a mix of lancholy and sorrow, “Alexander, though love is indeed beautiful, I must say that most love does not bring happiness.
It cures no diseases, only wounds like a rose with its thorns.”
Great Dumas clearly disagreed with Heine’s view.
As a bestselling author who practically grew up steeped in romance and had countless lovers, his perspective was quite different from that of Heine, who had suffered the woes of unrequited love.
However, out of respect for his friend’s feelings, Great Dumas ultimately refrained from pointing out Heine’s heartbreak.
After all, not everyone can remain upbeat after being rejected by two cousins, and although Great Dumas was prepared to share so romantic wisdom with his friend, now was clearly not the ti.
He turned and, pointing an accusing finger at Arthur, declared, “Arthur, I believe you must take full responsibility for Mr.
Wheatstone’s transformation.”
“?” Arthur frowned slightly, “Are you suggesting the work targets I set for Charles were too onerous?
Co now, he hasn’t done a lick of work in two months.
This whole ti, he’s been occupied with deciphering love letters, acting as a relationship advisor, a confidant.
Most importantly, I wasn’t the one who assigned him this task.”
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