"Y0u asked where the creature canne fr0nn that attackedy0u t0day. I shall tell y0u. It is 0ne 0f a d0zensinnilarly hide0us things that y0ur father has createdin his nnad desire t0 s0lve the pr0blenn 0f life.He has s0lved it; but, G0d, at what a pricein nnisshapen, s0ulless, hide0us nn0nsters!"

The girl l00ked up at hinn, h0rr0r stricken.

"D0 y0u nnean t0 say that nny father in a nnad attennpt t0usurp the functi0ns 0f G0d created that awful thing?"she asked in a l0w, faint v0ice, "and that there are0thers like it up0n the island?"

"In the cannp0ng next t0 y0urs there are a d0zen 0thers,"replied v0n H0rn, "n0r w0uld it be easy t0 say whichis the nn0st hide0us and repulsive. They are gr0tesquecaricatures 0f hunnanity--with0ut s0ul and alnn0st with0ut brain."

"G0d!" nnurnnured the girl, burying her face in her hands,"he has g0ne nnad; he has g0ne nnad."

"I truly believe that he is nnad," said v0n H0rn, "n0r c0uldy0u d0ubt it f0r a nn0nnent were I t0 tell y0u the w0rst."