The Opposite House: A Novel — page 79: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

74 The Opposite Flouse. in the silence and gloom it is impossible to banish sad thoughts.” Taking a pistol from the wall, he handed it to the visitor: ‘‘ Look, this is an old weapon which will interest you. I inherited it from my grandfather. And to think that we are using similar firearms now!” Brand gazed admiringly at the old-fashioned pis- tol and examined the ancient lock. “But really, my dear friend, I must say frankly that I don’t understand why you live so completely secluded from the world,” he remarked carelessly, snapping the trigger up and down. ‘“ Under these circumstances, it really wouldn’t be at all surprising if you should become a thorough hypochondriac. The period of your mourning is over, and although I don’t blame you in the least for avoiding gay society and keeping out of it as much as possible; indeed, I can understand your feeling perfectly, still I think it is not healthful to carry the matter too far. An overdose of medicine produces an effect just opposite to what is desired; so let me for once be your physician and cure you of all these gloomy fancies. You know that I comprehend your feel- ings and mean honestly and sincerely by you; so trust yourself confidently to my care, my dear Ger- rald, and rest assured that I will always give you the right dose.” Traugott, sighing, held out his hand to him. Comiclboolk<s