A spirit of wonder seemed to have taken possession of them; it was almost as though by some process of telepathy the thought which animated the mind of this questioner had taken a hold of their minds, although they did not quite know what that thought might be.

Moreover the sword of smallpox hung over the city, and therefore the subject was of supreme interest.

When Death is near, whatever they may pretend, men think of little else.
Now he was at the foot of the platform, and now in the gaunt, powerful frame I recognised my daughter's suitor, Ernest Merchison, and knew that something dreadful was at hand, what I could not guess.
There was still time--I might have pretended to be ill, but my brain was so weary with work and sorrow, and so occupied, what was left of it, in trying to fathom Merchison's meaning, that I let the precious moment slip.

At length he was standing close by me, and to me his face was like the face of an avenging angel, and his eyes shone like that angel's sword.
"I wish to ask you, sir," he said again, "whether or no you believe that vaccination is a prophylactic against smallpox." Once more there were opportunities of escape.

I might for instance have asked for a definition of vaccination, of prophylactics and of smallpox, and thus have argued till the audience grew weary.