[The Tracer of Lost Persons by Robert W. Chambers]@TWC D-Link bookThe Tracer of Lost Persons CHAPTER VIII 6/18
I have reduced the superficial muscular phenomena and facial symptomatic aspect of such people to an exact science founded upon a schedule approximating the Bertillon system of records.
And," he added, smiling, "out of the twenty-seven known vocal variations your voice betrays twenty-five unmistakable symptoms; and out of the sixteen reflex muscular symptoms your face has furnished six, your hands three, your limbs and feet six. Then there are other superficial symptoms--" "Good heavens!" broke in Harren; "how can you prove a man to be in love when he himself doesn't know whether he is or not? If a man isn't in love no Bertillon system can make him so; and if a man doesn't know whether or not he is in love, who can tell him the truth ?" "I can," said the Tracer calmly. "What! When I tell you I myself don't know ?" "_That_," said the Tracer, smiling, "is the final and convincing symptom.
_You_ don't know.
_I_ know because you _don't_ know.
That is the easiest way to be sure that you are in love, Captain Harren, because you always are when you are not sure.
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