As this was said out loud, without the slightest attempt at concealment, so that every word was audible, not only to Mr. Pownceby, to whom the remarks were addressed, but also to Miss Haseltine, and the book-keeper, and the porter, and the boots, and the waiter, and the chambermaid, and any other straggler who might happen to be within fifty yards or so, it would seem that in her husband Mrs. Pratt possessed a man of character. But Mr. Pownceby was not fond of such publicity. "Can I say a word to you alone?" "No, sir, you cannot. If you have a message from my wife, say it. If not, lead on to No. 13." "The fact is, Mr. Pratt, eh--Mrs. Pratt is not--eh--quite well." "Is that so? I'm glad to hear it. It's a comfort to know that only sickness would keep her from her husband; though it wouldn't need much of that to keep her from a chance of seeing me." "The fact is, I wish, Mr. Pratt, you would let me speak to you alone." "No, sir, I will not. If she's dead, don't spare my feelings. If she has left me for a better man, don't spare my feelings either." "The fact is, she's in a hypnotic state." "In a what state?" "A hypnotic state." "What state's that?" "'Hypnotic' 's a new word--it's been brought in lately--it means 'mesmeric.'" Mr. Pratt paused before replying. He looked Mr. Pownceby up and down. "Look here, Mr. ---- I think you mentioned Pownceby; I don't know who you are, but you seem a friendly kind of man. Take my advice and get something off your chest. I see you've got it on." Mr. Pownceby smiled, rather faintly. He did not lack presence of mind, as a rule, though just then the situation was as much as he could manage. He made a dash at it. "I wish you would give me half a minute alone; but, since you will not, I must try to tell my story where we are. You see this book?" Mr. Pownceby held up the fatal treatise. "It contains instructions for the performance of mesmeric experiments. Mrs. Pratt insisted on my performing one of them on her. I succeeded in producing the mesmeric state, but I--I couldn't get her out of it." There was a curious twinkle in Mr. Pratt's eyes. "I don't catch on," he said. "I say that I hypnotised her--that is, produced the mesmeric state, but that I--I couldn't get her out of it." "Well?" "She's in it now." "In what?" "The mesmeric state." "Does she seem to like it?" "That is more than I can say. I had just induced Miss Haseltine to come to my assistance when we were so fortunate as to encounter you." "Then I am to understand that when she ought to have been at the depot looking out for me, she was engaged in looking out for the mesmeric state along with you; is that so?" "I'm afraid it is." "Where is she?" "In her sitting-room, No. 13." "Lead on to No. 13."