Madame Kateroski's instructions were simple. "It is really a matter of faith," she said. "All you have to do is to go to some secluded spot--the privacy of your bedroom will do admirably--sit down, close your eyes, look into your lids and concentrate hard. After a while you will no longer see your eyelids--your lids will fade away and you will be on the Astral Plane, and see strange creatures, which, although terrifying, won't harm you. When you get used to them, you will communicate with them, and learn from them all you want to know." "Shall we try?" Gladys remarked laughingly to Shiel, as they stepped into the street. "But if faith is essential to success, I fear failure, as far as I am concerned, is a foregone conclusion. I know I shouldn't have sufficient faith." "Nor I either," Shiel said. "But, perhaps, we could acquire a necessary amount of it, if we were to experiment together. Supposing we try in that delightfully secluded copse in your garden." Gladys shook her head. "I'm afraid it would be useless. Besides, if my father were to hear of it, he would fear worry had turned my brain, and most likely have another fit. No, we must think of something more practical. In the meanwhile, if you will keep on with the part, you have so generously undertaken, you will be doing me an inestimable service." "Then I'll keep on with it for ever," Shiel replied, and before she could stop him, he had kissed her hand. CHAPTER XV HOW HAMAR, CURTIS AND KELSON ENTERED THE ASTRAL PLANE In order to explain the manner in which Hamar, Kelson and Curtis were initiated into their new properties, I must now go back to the day preceding the gratis performance of the Modern Sorcery Company, that is to say the last day of stage one of the compact. To Kelson the day had been one of surprises throughout. When he arrived at the building in Cockspur Street (he preferred living alone, and, consequently, rented a handsome suite of rooms in John Street, Mayfair), he was not a little astonished to meet Lilian Rosenberg on the staircase. "I thank you so much!" she exclaimed, shaking hands with him most effusively. "It is all owing to you I got the post." "Then Hamar has engaged you," Kelson ejaculated. "Why, yes! didn't you know!" Lilian said with a smile. "I had a letter from him the very evening of the day I called here." "Did you! He never told me anything about it! How do you think you will get on?" "Oh, splendidly! The work is interesting and full of variety. Moreover, I like the atmosphere of the place, it is so weird. I believe the three of you really are magicians!" "If that be so," Kelson said, "then we have only acted in accordance with our character in engaging the services of a witch--a witch who has already bewitched one member of the trio. Now please don't go to the expense of lunching out: lunch with me instead. Lunch with me every day."