“Well, it seems fraud-proof on this occasion, if the medium sits outside.” The two researchers were agreed on this. The medium was seated on one side of the little tent, his wife on the other. The light was out, and a small red lamp near the ceiling was just sufficient to enable outlines to be clearly seen. As the eye became accustomed to it some detail could also be observed. “Mr. Linden will begin by some clairvoyant readings,” said Mrs. Linden. Her whole attitude, seated beside the cabinet with her hands on her lap and the air of a proprietor, made Enid smile, for she thought of Mrs. Jarley and her waxworks. Linden, who was not in trance, began to give clairvoyance. It was not very good. Possibly the mixed influence of so many sitters of various types at close quarters was too disturbing. That was the excuse which he gave himself when several of his descriptions were unrecognised. But Malone was more shocked by those which were recognised, since it was so clear that the word was put into the medium’s mouth. It was the folly of the sitter rather than the fault of the medium, but it was disconcerting all the same. “I see a young man with brown eyes and a rather drooping moustache.” “Oh, darling, darling, have you then come back!” cried Miss Badley. “Oh, has he a message?” “He sends his love and does not forget.” “Oh, how evidential! It is so exactly what the dear boy would have said! My first lover, you know,” she added, in a simpering voice to the company. “He never fails to come. Mr. Linden has brought him again and again.” “There is a young fellow in khaki building upon the left. I see a symbol over his head. It might be a Greek cross.” “Jim--it is surely Jim!” cried Lady Smith. “Yes. He nods his head.” “And the Greek cross is probably a propeller,” said Sir James. “He was in the Air Service, you know.” Malone and Enid were both rather shocked. Mailey was also uneasy. “This is not good,” he whispered to Enid. “Wait a bit! You will get something better.” There were several good recognitions, and then someone resembling Summerlee was described for Malone. This was wisely discounted by him, since Linden might have been in the audience on the former occasion. Mrs. Debbs’ exhibition seemed to him far more convincing than that of Linden. “Wait a bit!” Mailey repeated. “The medium will now try for materialisations,” said Mrs. Linden. “If the figures appear I would ask you not to touch them, save by request. Victor will tell you if you may do so. Victor is the medium’s control.” The medium had settled down in his chair and he now began to draw long, whistling breaths with deep intakes, puffing the air out between his lips. Finally he steadied down and seemed to sink into a deep coma, his chin upon his breast. Suddenly he spoke, but it seemed that his voice was better modulated and more cultivated than before. “Good evening, all!” said the voice. There was a general murmur of “Good evening, Victor.”