"Oh, because of Madame Orienta. Haven't you heard about her? She cleared up the mystery as far as Joyce,--Mrs. Stannard and I are concerned." "Yes, I've heard all about her. You believe in her supernatural powers?" "Oh, yes. Only I don't use that word. I call them psychic powers." "But it was supernatural to read the sealed messages as she did?" "Well, I suppose it was. I suppose clairvoyance is supernatural, but we psychics prefer other terms. You know I'm a psychic." "Ah, is that so? And you can read sealed messages in the dark?" "No, indeed, I can't. I wish I could. But perhaps I shall be able to some day. I can--Mr. Ford, you believe me, don't you?" Natalie looked at him, and a slight flush came to her pale cheek as she saw his slightly quizzical expression. "Miss Vernon, I believe all you've said, so far. I want to continue my confidence in your statements, so please be very careful not to exaggerate or over-colour the least mite. Now, just to what extent do you _know_ you're a psychic? Not imagine or hope or think, but _know_." "Well, I only know that I've heard the voice of Mr. Stannard's spirit since his death, as clearly as I heard his mortal voice that night he died." "You are sure of this?" "I am sure, Mr. Ford." "Tell me the exact circumstances." XIX Ford's Day "Mrs. Stannard and I were alone, here in the studio----" "Where was Mr. Stannard?" "I don't know. He wasn't in the house." "Was Mrs. Faulkner?" "Yes, but she wouldn't stay here with us. She doesn't approve of any of these psychic investigations, but she doesn't say much against them, out of respect to Mrs. Stannard's and my wishes." "Go on." Natalie told the story of hearing faint groans, as of a dying man, and of the sudden extinguishing of the lights. "One moment, Miss Vernon. When the lights went out, the room was quite still, was it not?" "Deathly silent, Mr. Ford. Joyce and I were breathless, listening for further sounds of any sort." "And, tell me, did you hear the click of the switch as the light went out?" "Yes, I did. I heard it distinctly." "And did that mean nothing to you?" "Why, what could it mean?" "It meant, Miss Vernon, that the light was switched off by a mortal,--flesh and blood hand. Had it been supernaturally extinguished there would have been no sound." "I heard it,--I'm sure I heard it. But I think the spirit of Mr. Stannard haunts the whole room, and it was he who turned the light off." "By means of a material switch?" Natalie looked a little uncertain. Varying expressions passed over her face as she thought it out. Then she said, "Don't spirits ever use material means?" "Not to my individual knowledge," returned Alan Ford gravely. "I fear, Miss Vernon, your belief in the spiritual influences at work in this affair is about to be rudely shattered. Now, did you hear any other sound,--a click or thud,--after the light went out?"