Mrs Jefferson started, the poet turned pale. Colonel Estcourt looked at them gravely. "It is the answer," he said. "You may come. She will receive us. Who else do you wish to invite?" "Oh, my husband, if I may," cried Mrs Jefferson, eagerly, "and Diogenes--he's so solid and sensible. His imagination never plays tricks with him." "Very well," said Colonel Estcourt, "bring them also." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Princess Zairoff was seated in her boudoir reading, as the party filed in, headed by Colonel Estcourt. She rose and greeted them with the same sweet and gracious manner that had so charmed Mrs Jefferson. "I know why you are here," she said, as the little American burst into vivacious explanations. "I am quite ready to do anything Julian wishes. You know--or, perhaps, you do not know--that he trained my _clairvoyante_ faculties long ago. They are natural to me, I suppose; but you do not require to be told that even natural gifts are capable of training and improving to almost any extent." She turned to Mrs Jefferson. "You have some power," she said, "you saw me the other night. No one else did." Mrs Jefferson looked highly gratified. "Oh, Madame Zairoff," she cried, "I'd give up everything in the world to have your wonderful gifts." "Even Worth's gowns?" said the princess, smiling. "What about the pleasant vanities we talked so much about?" "Oh, bother the vanities. I've found out life can be much more interesting than when it's merely frivolous," said the American, heartily. "Is there anything I _could_ do to become an occultist?" Colonel Estcourt laughed outright. "My dear Mrs Jefferson," he said, "the life is not by any means easy, or gratifying. I think you had better consider it carefully, and weigh it well in the balance with the `creations' of Worth, and the magnificence of your diamonds, for somehow the two things won't pull together, and you haven't even learnt the A B C of occult science yet." "No," she said, seating herself, "I suppose not. Well, please begin my lesson." "This will not be a lesson," he said, gravely, "only an illustration. May I ask you all to be seated?" They took various chairs and seats, and the princess threw herself on the couch, nestling back among her favourite white bear-skins, with a smile on her lips. Colonel Estcourt removed a rose-shaded lamp from the stand, and placed it behind her, so that the light should not shine directly into her eyes. They were all watching her intently in the full expectation of something to be done or said that was mysterious and awe-inspiring. Colonel Estcourt then seated himself on a chair opposite the couch. For a moment their eyes met and lingered in the gaze, then hers closed softly, and she seemed to sleep as peacefully and gently as a child in its cradle.