"We darkened the seance room, leaving the gas burning brightly in the adjoining dining-room. Dr. and Mrs. Speer and I sat at the table. On the floor under the table we put a piece of ruled paper and a pencil. A corner of the paper I tore off, and handed it to Dr. Speer to identify the sheet of paper if necessary. Various raps, some objects brought in, and a noise rather like sawing wood. When light was called for, Mrs. Speer stooped down and picked up the paper. The upper surface was blank. Her endorsement on the back of the paper, afterwards written, reads: 'I took the paper from under the table with the writing downwards,' _i.e._ on the surface touching the carpet. Dr. Speer and I wrote and signed this endorsement: 'The above corner was torn by me (S. M.) before the light was put out, and was given to Dr. S.' I (S. M.) afterwards put the two pieces together. They fit exactly, and are secured by a couple of halfpenny stamps, with the initials of Dr. S. and myself upon them. The message follows the rules exactly. A facsimile is appended, omitting only the initials of a deceased friend. It will be noticed that the writing is clearly and laboriously executed on the ruled lines. In no case are the lines deserted. I fancy the message is written backwards. Imperator's signature is of his usual decided type, very like what is automatically written by my hand. I suspect that the message was written by two hands."[54] FOOTNOTES: [39] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 245-352, and vol. xi. pp. 24-113. Reference should also be made to an obituary notice of Mr. Stainton Moses by Mr. Myers, in _Proceedings_, vol. viii. pp. 597-601. [40] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 247-248. [41] Ibid., p. 248. [42] Ibid., p. 247. [43] Ibid., p. 247. [44] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. p. 247. [45] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. p. 252. [46] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. p. 259. [47] Ibid. [48] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 259-260. [49] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. p. 261. [50] See _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 263-266. [51] See _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 266-267. [52] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 267-273. [53] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 274-276. [54] _Proceedings S.P.R._, vol. ix. pp. 284-286. CHAPTER VII "THE DIVINING ROD"