degree. Although I did all that I was able to compose myself, it was
impossible that I could think like Wolstang, and still less that I could
know a hundred private and household matters, on which the pert Louise
and sapient Barnabas made a point of consulting me. Whenever I was
spoken to concerning things that I knew, my answers were kind and
condescending; but on any point about which I was ignorant, I utterly
lost temper, and peremptorily forbade them to repeat it. Both shook
their heads at such inconsistent behaviour; and it was soon bruited
among the neighbours that Mr Albert Wolstang had parted with his senses.

The second day arrived, and found me in the same state of mind. The
amazement which succeeded the discovery of my metamorphosis had indeed
given way, and I could look at my reflection in the mirror with less
pain than at first; but my feelings were still as imbittered as ever,
and I ardently longed for death to put an end to such intolerable
misery. While brooding over these matters, the door of the study opened.
Thinking it was one of the domestics, I paid no attention to it; but in
a moment I heard a sneeze, which made my flesh creep, and in another the
little man with the snuff-coloured surtout, the scarlet waistcoat, and
the wooden leg, made his appearance. Since I last saw this old fellow, I
had conceived a mortal hatred against him. I thought, although the idea
was wild enough, that he had some hand in my Metempsychosis--and the
affair of the scales and the marble busts, together with his Pythagorean
opinions, his vast learning, his geomancy and astrology, gave to my idea
a strong confirmation. On the present occasion his politeness was
excessive; he bowed almost to the ground, made fifty apologies for
intruding, and inquired with the most _outre_ affectation of tenderness
into the state of my health. He then seated himself opposite to me, laid
his cocked-hat upon the table, took a pinch of snuff, and commenced his
intolerable system of sneezing. I was never less in a humour to relish
anything like foppery; so throwing myself back upon the chair, putting
on as commanding a look as I could, and looking at him fiercely, I said,
"So, sir, you are back again; I suppose you know me?"

"Know you, my dear friend--eh--yes, I derived great pleasure in being
made acquainted with you the day before yesterday. You are Mr Frederick
Stadt--that is to say, you are Mr Albert Wolstang."--(_A sneeze_).

"Then you kn