Then you were led by Podger into a first-floor front room, very frowsy, dark, and stuffy, in which the chairs were arranged in a semi-circle, facing a big chintz-covered sofa. There was a cabinet or screen in front of a cupboard on the left of the fireplace, covered with black cloth, which material also closely draped the windows, and excluded the light from the street lamps and the public-house opposite. The room was already nearly filled, and, in a few minutes, the medium entered, and took her seat on the sofa, with Podger on her left, by the cabinet. When she had seated herself, you saw that the long greasy mark on the wall-paper behind the couch was caused by the contact of the medium’s head as she leaned back fanning herself, and looking pale and weary. The company, on the occasion we describe, consisted of eleven women, more or less young, evidently work-women, and six men. Eight o’clock having struck, Podger put out the gas, and left the room in total darkness, and then struck up a hymn,— “Shall we gather at the river?” which was very well sung by the little congregation. By the time the hymn was finished, the medium had begun to breathe heavily, and occasionally draw deep sighs. When all was silent she began to speak in a queer tone, and Podger announced that it was the spirit of an ancient Egyptian who had entered into the medium temporarily, and who was about to describe what he saw round the heads of the visitors, amongst whom to-night was Janet Spriggs, niece of Mrs. Podger. She was Mrs. Crowe’s maid, and had recently made the acquaintance of Mr. Mole, who had frequent occasion to visit the house on business connected with the Laboratory. The ancient Egyptian declared he saw a vision of a field of waving corn behind Janet’s head, which her aunt interpreted to mean coming prosperity of extraordinary extent; he also saw her seated in a chariot, drawn by horses like those of Pharaoh, and waited upon by slaves of the desert (this was declared to mean she would ride in her own carriage, and have servants of her own); that he also saw Imhotep, the son of Ptah and Pakht, bringing one of his disciples to marry her (Mrs. Podger interpreted this to mean she should wed a young doctor); that an evil spirit was in the house where she lived who meant mischief, and indicated perhaps a speedy visit to the spirit world for a lady who abode there (this was not further explained, as Jenny seemed to know all about it). As each visitor was permitted to ask any question he liked of the Egyptian gentleman, the fortune-telling business went briskly on till closing time, when everybody felt that they had had a very fair sixpennyworth, and went home to dream of the things in store for them.