DUKE. Why, Hastings--Hastings--we thought you were a ghost. You must be--er--looking white or something. HASTINGS. I have brought back the answer of the Anti-Vegetarians ... I mean the Vegetarians. [_Drops one or two papers._ DUKE. Why, Hastings, you _are_ looking white. HASTINGS. I ask your Grace's pardon. I had a slight shock on entering the room. DOCTOR. A shock? What shock? HASTINGS. It is the first time, I think, that your Grace's work has been disturbed by any private feelings of mine. I shall not trouble your Grace with them. It will not occur again. [_Exit_ HASTINGS. DUKE. What an extraordinary fellow. I wonder if.... [_Suddenly stops speaking._ DOCTOR. [_After a long silence, in a low voice to_ SMITH.] How do you feel? SMITH. I feel I must have a window shut or I must have it open, and I don't know which it is. [_Another long silence._ SMITH. [_Crying out suddenly in the dark._] In God's name, go! DOCTOR. [_Jumping up rather in a tremble._] Really, sir, I am not used to being spoken to.... SMITH. It was not you whom I told to go. DOCTOR. No. [_Pause._] But I think I will go. This room is simply horrible. [_He marches towards the door._ DUKE. [_Jumping up and bustling about, altering cards, papers, etc., on tables._] Room horrible? Room horrible? No, no, no. [_Begins to run quicker round the room, flapping his hands like fins._] Only a little crowded. A little crowded. And I don't seem to know all the people. We can't like everybody. These large at-homes.... [_Tumbles on to a chair._ CONJURER. [_Reappearing at the garden doors._] Go back to hell from which I called you. It is the last order I shall give. DOCTOR. [_Rising rather shakily._] And what are you going to do? CONJURER. I am going to tell that poor little lad a lie. I have found in the garden what he did not find in the garden. I have managed to think of a natural explanation of that trick. DOCTOR. [_Warmly moved._] I think you are something like a great man. Can I take your explanation to him now? CONJURER. [_Grimly._] No thank you. I will take it myself. [_Exit into the other room._ DUKE. [_Uneasily._] We all felt devilish queer just now. Wonderful things there are in the world. [_After a pause._] I suppose it's all electricity. [_Silence as usual._ SMITH. I think there has been more than electricity in all this. _Enter_ PATRICIA, _still pale, but radiant._ PATRICIA. Oh, Morris is ever so much better! The Conjurer has told him such a good story of how the trick was done. _Enter_ CONJURER. DUKE. Professor, we owe you a thousand thanks! DOCTOR. Really, you have doubled your claim to originality! SMITH. It is much more marvellous to explain a miracle than to work a miracle. What was your explanation, by the way? CONJURER. I shall not tell you. SMITH. [_Starting._] Indeed? Why not?