Once again, the lunatics were lodged according to their different categories. One wing housed those madmen with a particular tendency for modesty; one was for the tolerant, one for the truthful, one for the innocent, one for the loyal, one for the magnanimous, one for the wise, one for the sincere, and so on. Naturally, the inmates’ friends and family objected strongly to this new theory, and some tried to force the council to rescind its authorization. However, the council had not forgotten the language used by Councillor Galvão, and, since he would be released and restored to his former position if they rescinded the bylaw, they refused. Simão Bacamarte wrote to the councillors, not to thank them, but to congratulate them on this act of personal vindictiveness.

Disenchanted with the lawful authorities, some of the leading townspeople went secretly to Porfírio the barber and promised him their wholehearted support, as well as money and influence at court, if he would lead another uprising against the council and the alienist. The barber declined, saying that ambition had driven him to break the law on that first occasion, but that he had seen both the error of his ways and the fickleness of his followers. Since the council had seen fit to authorize the alienist’s new experiment for one year, then, in the event of the council rejecting their request, they should either wait until the year was up or petition the viceroy. He, Porfírio, could never advise resorting to means that had already failed him once and resulted in deaths and injuries that would be forever on his conscience.

“What’s this you say?” asked the alienist when one of his spies told him about the conversation between the barber and the leading citizens.

Two days later, the barber was taken to the Casa Verde. “I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t!” cried the poor man.

The one-year period came to an end, and the council authorized a six-month extension to allow some new therapies to be tested. The conclusion of this episode in the chronicles of Itaguaí is of such magnitude, and so unexpected, that it deserves a full explanation of no less than ten chapters; I will, however, make do with just one, which will form both the grand finale of my account, and one of the finest-ever examples of scientific conviction and selflessness.

Chapter 13

PLUS ULTRA!

Now it was the turn of therapy. Simão Bacamarte, so assiduous and wise in finding his patients, exceeded even himself in the foresight and diligence with which he began their treatment. On this point all of the chroniclers are in complete agreement: the eminent alienist performed the most astonishing cures, earning him Itaguaí’s most ardent admiration.