Page 331 - swanns-way

sion of which, in spoken or written language, is a proof of
insanity, so insanity diagnosed in a sonata seemed to him
as mysterious a thing as the insanity of a dog or a horse, al-
though instances may be observed of these.
‘Don’t speak to me about ‘your masters’; you know ten
times as much as he does!’ Mme. Verdurin answered Dr.
Cottard, in the tone of a woman who has the courage of her
convictions, and is quite ready to stand up to anyone who
disagrees with her. ‘Anyhow, you don’t kill your patients!’
‘But, Madame, he is in the Academy.’ The Doctor smiled
with bitter irony. ‘If a sick person prefers to die at the hands
of one of the Princes of Science... It is far more smart to be
able to say, ‘Yes, I have Potain.’’
‘Oh, indeed! More smart, is it?’ said Mme. Verdurin. ‘So
there are fashions, nowadays, in illness, are there? I didn’t
know that.... Oh, you do make me laugh!’ she screamed,
suddenly, burying her face in her hands. ‘And here was I,
poor thing, talking quite seriously, and never seeing that
you were pulling my leg.’
As for M. Verdurin, finding it rather a strain to start
laughing again over so small a matter, he was content with
puffing out a cloud of smoke from his pipe, while he reflect-
ed sadly that he could never again hope to keep pace with
his wife in her Atalanta-flights across the field of mirth.
‘D’you know; we like your friend so very much,’ said
Mme. Verdurin, later, when Odette was bidding her good
night. ‘He is so unaffected, quite charming. If they’re all like
that, the friends you want to bring here, by all means bring
them.’

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