THE MAN-COVER
happy mood to offer him my services in order that he should
be cut out and planed on the spot. But he looked gently in
my eyes, and said that he himself would see to that. I told
him of my experiments, and how I still had at times a certain
illusion that my body was absolutely complete. But (he said)
the case is common with all men amputated ; and he promised
me that in case of my death he should at once prepare himself
to take my place at night on the top of the coffin. My mind
being thus at rest, I began studying more deeply the contents
of that mighty box.
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