“Ja, in der Tat.” He switched back to English, still smiling. “I have made it my business to learn everything possible about your work, and your father’s. I have been looking forward to our meeting with great anticipation.”
“As have I.” She returned his. smile, feeling foolishs for no good reason. “There is so much I have been unable to discuss with others of like mind.”
He extended his arm. “I think you will find me very much of a mind with you and your father, Dr. Schell. It was because of my interest in hypnosis that I first encountered the elder Dr. Schell’s work, and realized that much I had been considering had already been taken up by you. I hope you do not mind my familiarity; I feel as if I know you.”
“I am not one to stand upon formality,” she answered. “To the contrary, it is excessive dedication to useless convention that all too often stands in the way of true progress.”
“Ah! A woman after my own heart. I can already see that we think alike.” He briefly rested his hand on her fingers.
“We both believe that what some consider irregular methods are often the only ones that bring results.”
He led her to a small private room off the main dining salon, where he offered her a seat and ordered refreshments. “It is some hours until dinner, but I thought we might occupy them with no difficulty.” He took the seat beside her. “I hope you brought some of your case notes and observations, Dr. Schell. I’ve heard something of the Haven since I arrived in town.”
“I’m sure you didn’t judge us on the rumors circulating here,” she said, concealing her unexpected anxiety. “Many people have an unreasoning fear of madness, when so few of the insane pose any danger whatsoever.”
“As you say. I am sure what you do here is the work of a pioneer who deserves far more recognition than she has received.”
Johanna blushed as she hadn’t done with anyone but” Quentin. “You give me too much credit, Herr Doktor—”
“You will call me Feodor. No formalities, verstehen sie?”
“Yes.” She sat forward in her chair. “I am not pursuing this work with an interest in fame. It was my father’s hope that we might develop new techniques to ease the burden of insanity. I believe we have made real progress, and I am more than happy to share what we’ve discovered. If you have worked with hypnosis, I have no doubt that there is much I can learn from you… particularly if you have recently been in Europe. We are so out of touch, here.”
“I hope to remedy that situation,” he said. “I’ve brought texts from Germany and France, as well as some of my own notes.” His smile warmed. “I feel sure this will not be our only meeting.”
Johanna resisted the urge to clear her throat nervously. It was much too soon to bring up Quentin’s case, but Feodor Bolkonsky seemed a most extraordinary man. He might very well be what she’d been hoping for.
“Will you be staying long?” she asked.
“I am currently residing in San Francisco, which is why it was possible for me to seek you out. To my great good fortune.”
“I was recently in San Francisco for a lecture,” she said, flattered by his compliment. “I don’t recall seeing you there—”
“Sadly, I was out of town at the time.” He lifted a brown leather satchel resting against the side of his chair and set it on the small table between them. He opened the satchel and pulled out a pair of new books. “I hope you’ll accept these as a token of my esteem, Dr. Schell.”
She touched the covers reverently. Both were texts by well-regarded neurologists in Europe whose works she had been unable to obtain in America. “Thank you… Feodor. You must call me Johanna.”
“I will, with pleasure.”
They spent a few more minutes in small talk, on subjects ranging from the comparative weather in San Francisco and the Napa Valley to the latest play Feodor had seen in the city. But then the real discussion began. Johanna swiftly lost track of time as they exchanged opinions on such fascinating topics as Wundt’s Principles of Physiological Psychology and Charcot’s theories on hysteria.