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The Maniac – A Realistic Study of Madness from the Maniac’s Point of View – E Thelmar

We took another cab and drove to Paddington, and went to the refreshment-room and had lunch. I have never in my life had such an enjoyable meal. I do not allude to the food (which was cold fowl, salad and celery, I remember) but to the company.

Throughout the meal I was carrying on a (thought) conversation with Ray Hall (still ill in bed) and Mrs. -, the occultist (in California).

My conversational brilliancy astounded myself. Ray Hall and I kept up one uninterrupted flow of scintillating witticism and lightning-quick repartee. I sat shaking with uncontrollable laughter; anon endeavouring to stifle it in my handkerchief, under pretence of blowing my nose-anon making some ordinary, commonplace remark to Miss E, to divert her attention-anon imploring Mrs. - to engage Ray Hall in conversation and make him desist from talking to me, as the woman I was with was getting more and more alarmed at my inexplicable hilarity and was fully convinced I was mad.

This was the sole reason I wished Ray Hail's killingly amusing talk with me stopped, as I have never in my life enjoyed such an intellectual feast of wit ; and my own mental powers, and the ease with which I found I could carry on three conversations simultaneously (the one with the occultist a highly intellectual one), delighted me.