Артур Конан Дойль (Arthur Conan Doyle)Of all the sciences which interested the sons of men, none had such an attraction for the learned professor von Baumgarten as psychology and the relations between mind and matter. By experiments which lasted over 20 years he obtained facts upon which he intended to build up a new science which would embrace mesmerism, spiritualism and all related subjects. In this he was much helped by his profound knowledge of physiology which explains the work of the brain, for Alexis von Baumgarten was professor of Physiology at the University of Keinplatz and had a laboratory to help him in his profound researches.
Professor von Baumgarten was tall and thin with a long narrow face and steel grey eyes, which were unusually bright and staring. He was popular among the students, who often gathered round him after his lectures and listened enthusiastically to his strange theories. He often called for volunteers from them in order to conduct some experiment. So there was hardly a fellow in the class who had not, at one time or another, been thrown into a mesmeric trance by his Professor.
Of all his students there was none who could be compared in enthusiasm with Fritz von Hartmann. He was a clever and hard-working fellow. Months before he had given his heart to young Elise, the blue-eyed, yellow-haired daughter of the Professor. Although she was not indifferent to him either, he had never dared to propose to her. So it would have been difficult for him to see his young lady if he had not made himself useful to the Professor. By this means he frequently was asked to the old man's house, where he willingly agreed to be experimented upon in any way in the hope of receiving one glance from Elise or one touch of her little hand.
To tell the truth, Fritz had a bad record in Keinplatz. Never was there a scandal or a duel in which the young student wouldn't take a most active part. No one used more free and violent language, no one drank more, no one played cards more habitually, no one was more idle than he. No wonder that Madam the Professor did not like his presence in the house. As to the Professor, he was too much busy with his strange studies to form a definite opinion of the student.