“There is a side of my character which I did not know till lately,” Arthur said at last. “When first it dawned upon me, I fought against it. I said to myself that deep down in all of us, a relic from the long past, is the remains of the superstition that blinded our fathers; and it is needful for the man of science to fight against it with all his might. And yet it was stronger than I. Perhaps my birth, my early years, in those Eastern lands where everyone believes in the supernatural, affected me although I did not know it. I began to remember vague, mysterious things, which I never knew had been part of my knowledge. And at last one day it seemed that a new window was opened on to my soul, and I saw with extraordinary clearness the incident which you had described. I knew suddenly it was part of my own experience. I saw you take me by the hand and pour the ink on my palm and bid me look at it. I felt again the strange glow that thrilled me, and with an indescribable bitterness I saw things in the mirror which were not there before. I saw people whom I had never seen. I saw them perform certain actions. And some force I knew not, obliged me to speak. And at length everything grew dim, and I was as exhausted as if I had not eaten all day.” He went over to the open window and looked out. Neither of the others spoke. The look on Arthur’s face, curiously outlined by the light of the lamp, was very stern. He seemed to undergo some mental struggle of extraordinary violence. He breath came quickly. At last he turned and faced them. He spoke hoarsely, quickly. “I must see Margaret again.” “Arthur, you’re mad!” cried Susie. He went up to Dr Porhoët and, putting his hands on his shoulders, looked fixedly into his eyes. “You have studied this science. You know all that can be known of it. I want you to show her to me.” The doctor gave an exclamation of alarm. “My dear fellow, how can I? I have read many books, but I have never practised anything. I have only studied these matters for my amusement.” “Do you believe it can be done?” “I don’t understand what you want.” “I want you to bring her to me so that I may speak with her, so that I may find out the truth.” “Do you think I am God that I can raise men from the dead?” Arthur’s hands pressed him down in the chair from which he sought to rise. His fingers were clenched on the old man’s shoulders so that he could hardly bear the pain. “You told us how once Eliphas Levi raised a spirit. Do you believe that was true?” “I don’t know. I have always kept an open mind. There was much to be said on both sides.” “Well, now you must believe. You must do what he did.” “You must be mad, Arthur.” “I want you to come to that spot where I saw her last. If her spirit can be brought back anywhere, it must be in that place where she sat and wept. You know all the ceremonies and all the words that are necessary.” But Susie came forward and laid her hand on his arm. He looked at her with a frown.