“To-night we shall talk and smoke, and pursue vain conceits,” said Karl, determinedly. “I think I ought to forego these glimpses into the void. They are unpleasing in many ways. Of what personal benefit is this unusual gift? I wish to qualify myself for a commercial career, and the only practical use of such escapades as those of the two preceding nights is somewhat in the detective line. I mean to resist the impulse for the future.” “Now you are indulging in banalities. You can no more resist the occasional use of your splendid gifts than a duckling reared by a hen could hold back from a pond. And do you really think that I have written twenty pages of notes merely to fool away three hours? I guess Maggie can’t be a nice girl, or it’s a sure thing you would want to see her again.” Karl smiled, and a very charming way he had of revealing his white teeth with the kindliest and most good-natured expression of genuine fun. “Even if you are smugging at law, Frank,” he said, “you should spare your friends the tricks of counsel. You fancy, and probably your belief is justified, that if I allow my mind to dwell on Miss Hutchinson’s appearance, such as I have recently discovered it to be, I shall wander off hopelessly across the ocean to find her. I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am firm in my resolution to discourage these influences as much as possible.” Hooper sighed. He put away his note-book and viciously bit the end off a green cigar, a feat by no means so easy as the smokers of British dry weeds may imagine. “Then let us talk of ships and kings and sealing-wax,” he growled. “I am rather strong on ancient Egypt. Would you like to hear my views on Ka?” Hooper was speaking with careless sarcasm. He was grievously annoyed that Grier should cut off a highly interesting experiment in such a summary fashion. Yet there is an unconscious art which is superior to all intent, and Hooper had blundered on to a question which set his hearer’s mind in a whirl. “Ka!” he said softly. “Surely that is what we call the soul? It is animism, the shadowy second self evoked from dreams. Yes, that is a root word, direct from the earliest mint. Man, in his first speech, described Ka.” The American veiled the joy in his eyes by a cloud of smoke. “If I can only plunk him near the window now, he will switch on to Maggie with a jerk,” was the ready reflection. But the “plunking,” whatever it may mean--for your good American, when not undergoing the embalming process which finally fits him for Paris, can coin words at will--was not necessary. Karl, without effort or volition, passed through the umbra which separated his known senses from the sway of their unknown congener. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and was forthwith, to all appearance, sleeping lightly.