The Necromancers

t day; and the effect of it upon his mind was singularly unsuggestive of supernatural mystery. Instead, the warm sky, the lights

s no particular principle behind, beyond a sense of discomfort at the unknown. But it was necessary for him to argue with himself about Maggie. The angry kind of contempt that he knew she would feel needed an answer; and he gave it by reminding himself that she had been brought up in

e a serious conjurer. It would be rather fun, he thought, to see a table dancing. But there was not wholly wanting

as late. (This was partly deliberate. He thought it best to show a little nonchalance.)

ter-Mr.

mself in a kennel of well-bred foxhounds. He was very correctly dressed, with Roman collar and stock, and obviously had not long left a theological co

ined Lady Laura, with a voluble frankness. "He thinks it so nece

for his indiscreet confidences. The clergyma

stess-"(Another biscuit, Maud darling?)-whom he tries to i

red his throat in

he said; "e

ncent.... I can't think why he is so late; but he has

," announced

n broadcloth which he had feared. Instead, it was a big man that he saw, stooping a little, inclined to stoutness, with a full curly beard tinged with grey, rather overhung brows, and

ittle sentences, leading him to a seat, introducing h

ious.... Mrs. Stapleton of course you know.... And you will just sit and talk to us ... like friends ... won't

so

a word or two in answer to Lady Laura's volubility, was of that resonant softness that is always a delight to hear. In fact, his whole bearing and personality was that of a rather exceptional average man-a publisher, it might be, or a retired lawyer-a family man with a sober round of life and ordinary duti

unday, by the way, Lady L

! How i

ut the rooms; it's the secretar

oking, particularly just now, when "Annie" was so complacent. (Mrs. Stapleton explained kindly to the two young gentlemen that

. It was too late, he said

iples. These were so shallow; this so impressive by the most ordinary of all methods, and the most difficult of imitation, that is, by sheer human personality. He could not grasp the least common multiple of the two sides. Ye

t set down his cup for the second ti

smoke, Mr

smiling, offering it to the two men.

w, Mr.

d, in a half-e

, I think you sa

ean; just like friends, you

the circle, rustled down again, a

t these gentleme

ried Lady Laura. "They cla

lf a little. He felt he would not like

e read several books; and I have been impressed. But there's a great deal in them that seems to me nonsense; perhaps I had better say which I don't understand. This materializing business, for instance.... I can understand that the m

had a good deal of power as well. Mr. Vincent sat motionless during this little speech, just looking at him, not at all offens

d drew on his ciga

"You are in a very reasonable position. I wish

eas

ialization that pu

other bowed a little.) "Our theologians, I believe, tell us that such a thing cannot

ll that your theologians sa

e very rash indee

ctually do happen. I do not wish to be rude, Mr. Baxter; but you remember that your theologians-I am not so foolish

r. Jamieson cleared his t

k into this matter, you must set aside for the present all other presuppositions. You must not begin by assuming that the

and quietly; then he had suddenly put an unexpected emphasis into the little sentence

cking off the ash of his cigarette, "is it possible for you to doub

med three

ave not con

altog

a great many much more remarkable

lation," said Laurie

t Divine Revelation-that is another question-but you receive the

; and he almost feared the next words. But he was as

all I ask. And now for the real thin

dy to be

e fire. Then he tossed the stump of his cigarette aw

Mr. Baxter," he began, with a kindly

t is only a label. You follow me? Yes? Or still more mysterious is your conscious power. You will to raise your hand, and it obeys. Muscular action? Oh yes; but that is but another label." He turned his eyes, suddenly somber, upon the staring, list

he p

these too was striking. It was not the sham mysticism he had expected. There was a certain reverence in them, an

ian, in the immortality of the soul, in the survival of personality after death

. Baxter" (the voice trembled with genuine emotion) ... "if you can think that...! If you can think that her thought turns only to herself and her joys. Why, her life has been lived in your love by our hypothesis-you were at her bedside when she died, perhaps; and she clung to you as to God Himself, when the shadow deepened. Do you think that her first thought, or at least her second, will not be of you...? In all that she sees, she will

nd Laurie sat astonished. Every word uttered seemed to fit his own case, to express by an almost perfect vehicle the vague thoughts that had struggled in his own heart during this

little. The sound of a hansom, the spanking trot and wintry jingle of bells swelled out of the distance,

n matter and spirit, except that it exists. What is she to do? Well, at least she will do this, she will bend every power that she possesses upon that medium-I mean matter-through which alone the communication can be made; as a man on an island, beyond the power of a human v

ian, so very dishonoring to the love of God, to think that she sometimes succeeds...? that she is able, under comparatively exceptional circumstances

ed a little

n a voice that seemed strange in his

mains only the fact whether such things do happen or

t forward

y where I need your

eously, resembling applause. Mr. Jamieson sat

berately, "that you have, so to speak, put yourse

t smiled f

lace with others," he

ady Laura. "He is quite right, you

week," he bega

pleton b

. Do something now. Surely the

at six-thirty," said

e in. He fe

this, sir, you can surely show i

ce, sharp and incisive, as if expe

broke

hat I beg and entreat of you t

was a

, Mr. Ja

rted, as if from a daze

e said. "I had no idea it was so l

t later h

ou are sure, Mr. Baxter, that you wish me to t

h you

nothing

-to continue my search. I shall know t

nt rose t

l you kindly take your seats...? Yes, Mr. Baxter, draw up your chair ... here. Now,

fire, with their hands resting lightly upon the surface. Laurie sat on one side and the medium on the other. Mr. Vincent had received his paper and pencil almost imme

ked at him

he could see them, nor in any detail, anywhere. Neither was it the face of a dreamer or a sleepwalker, or of the dead, when the lines disappear and life retires. It was a living, conscious face, yet it was

brownish, capable-perfectly motionless, the pe

ced up at th

wncast, fixed steadily upon the paper. And as he looked he saw Lady Laura begin to lift her l

ing to talk, and joining in it. The clergyman had been here; he himself had been sitting a yard further ba

of a very strange quality had suddenly descended and enveloped them. It was as if a section-that plac

t roar of the London evening, and was able to distinguish even the note of each instrument that helped to make up that untiring, inconclusive orchestra. Far away to the northwards sounded a great thoroughfare, the rolling of wheels, a myriad hoofs, the pulse of motor vehicles, and th

n to form, little inward pictures of what they signified; he saw

park, turning into the thoroughfare and across it. He began to consider Amy; and it seemed to him that in this intens

her a movement or a sound. But on considering it afterwards he remembered that it was as that sound is that wakes a man a

of surprise, at his hostess's face, and caught her in the very act of turning her eyes from his. There was no impatience in her movement: rather her face was of one absorbed, listening intently, not like the bearded face oppos

ce began to come down, li

th the speed of thought through those processes that had been measurable

le, the silenc

ugh concentric circles, yet he was not sure whether it were outwards or inwards that he went. The roar of London, with its flight of ocular visions, sank behind him, and without any further sense of mental travel, he found himself perceiving his own home, whether in memory, imagination, or fact he did not know.

ad gone, again conscious of the sudden passing of some clear sound that left no echo-as sharp as the crack of a whip. Oh! the paper-that was the important point! He bent a litt

king at him with a

with dismay whether this were so. But there was no sign of a

exclaimed hastily. "You

d at the

e medium. Mrs. Stapleton, he noticed, was just folding up, in an unobt

up but, to his astonishment, the big man was up

a few minutes," said the kin

egan Laurie,

tly," went on the voice;

le," said La

t sit still. N

ilence f

ngely elated. But he felt no inclination to move; and sat back, passive, looking

p at the clock on the mantelpiece; but it was one of those bulgy-faced Empire gilt affairs that display everything except the hour. He still waited a moment,

from him. The question of the time of day struck him as a suitabl

he said. "I am afr

ime," said the grave

t the clock, knowing that something was wrong somewhere.

nearly eight

t smiled r

e said. "Please sit d

-" began

epeated the voice, with a touch of imp

t he was alert, suspiciou

l me what has happen

feel

t. Kindly tell me

hear. Mr. Vincent stood up with a nod and leaned himself agains

You are sure you are no

e least,"

assed into trance

ha

five minutes past six; you cam

" gasped

ightened of, Mr. Baxter. It is an unusual gift, that is all. I have seldom

s still trying hopelessly to

le earlier. May I ask whether you hea

an effort to think. He felt

ou came back and looked at

inking I had h

dium n

so," h

third," said Lady L

said Laurie

any attent

of the last hour and a half?"

again. He was stil

reets," he said, "and then of my

and

certain pri

nswer one question more? Was it connecte

said Lauri

" said th

felt su

u ask that

looked at

sed to hear that you talked very considerably during this hour and a half; and from all that you said I should suppose

ng to his f

spying, sir.

ear a word more," rang out the imperious,

two ladies. Then he rememb

uave and kindly again. "Your thought was very natural.

pleton with an almost impercept

ho knew that you had sat out, about ten days ago or so, under some yew

umb dismay; some little s

hat enough,

slid in a s

ll that has passed here is, of course, as sacred as in th

nt," gasp

into his hands a

ly he l

"I knew it. It was just

dium s

nd on the table, leaning forward, and began to play his fingers as if

? You did that several times. It seem

. He remembered now. He ha

ou ever stammer?"

ent. It was beyond b

things were ch

and then, "But those too mig

then we had the advantage of watchi

your

ping, at the beginning and the end

word. He was still striving to marshal this f

he st

e said. "I-I don't

little longer and rest,

shook

," he said. "I can

llowed by the medium. The two

.. astonishing," sighed Mr

d. Lady Laura sat as

Vincent

t young man," he said abruptly.

otes here," remar

keep them. He must no