"I perceive you've marked this work with your pencil where it says, 'Place the thumb of your left hand on the subject's forehead, just above the nose, and level with the eyebrows.' Did you place the thumb of your left hand on my wife's forehead just above the nose, level with the eyebrows?" "Really, Mr. Pratt, I can only say that, with the view of making a little experiment, I followed, to the best of my ability, the instructions generally." "You seem to have seen the thing well through. It says that you've next to rest the ends of your fingers on the top of the subject's head. Did you rest the ends of your fingers on the top of my wife's head?" "You may take it for granted that I did whatever the book directs." "May I? That's kind. You increase my sense of obligation. Then you're to say to the subject, 'Look into my eyes.' Did you ask my wife to look into your eyes?" "I did--certainly." "Certainly. Of course. You're thorough--like the book. The man who put this book together had seen it done before. Then you're to say, 'Close your eyes quite tight.' Did you tell my wife to close her eyes quite tight?" "I did. It was at that point that she went off into the hypnotic state." "Was it now? This is really interesting. And what did you do next?" "I tried to bring her to." "Now, hark at that! And after all the trouble you had taken to send her off. And did she come?" "I am sorry to say, as I have already explained to you, that my efforts were not attended with success." "That was mean of her--real mean. And I suppose that, when you were performing these little experiments of yours upon my wife, this room was filled with a large assemblage?" "We were alone together. I wish, now, it had been otherwise." "Why?" "After the questions you have already put to me, that needs no answer." "Think not? Well, let me fill up your glass for you, Mr. Pownceby." "I am obliged to you, but must beg you to excuse me." "Is that so? You don't show yourself so friendly towards me as towards my wife. Perhaps, Mr. Pownceby, you're not aware that for the last two years I've been trotting round the world picking up the pieces to throw into her lap. She's English, and I'm American. She's not at all times fond of me, and we sometimes differ; but I love her, in my way. So you may think that when the first thing I hear, when I come to catch a sight of her after a two years' parting, is this little tale of yours, I find it a pleasing tale entirely. I find it that, I do assure you. Now, the only thing I should like you to do would be to play those little tricks on me which you played upon my wife. I should like to be hypnotised, uncommonly." "If I were to attempt to do so I don't think that I should succeed. But, in any case, after my experience of this morning, it will be a long time before I make any more experiments on any one." "Is that so? Think it over, Mr. Pownceby, while I lock this door and slip the key into my pocket."