“Met before!” exclaimed Mrs. Roster. “O! where? I flattered myself that I was the discoverer of Mrs. Brown’s remarkable talents,--at least in our own circle. I suppose then, Baron, that you have already been present at her marvellous séances.” “Mrs. Brown is the widow of an old and dear friend of mine,” he answered, evasively. “A widow!” echoed the lady of the house; “and does your husband ever return to you, Mrs. Brown? How intensely interesting! This will make the third time we have sat with her, Baron,” she continued to Von Steinberg, “and each time we have seen the form of a man whom no one in the party recognised. I wonder if it could have been Mr. Brown.” “Hush!” said the Baron, cautiously, and indeed the pallor which had suddenly stolen over Hannah’s usually rubicund countenance, quite justified him in saying so. “O! I am sorry!” returned Mrs. Roster, as she busied herself in pressing the medium to take some refreshment before she entered the séance room. Hannah faintly asked for a glass of water, and sat down apparently exhausted in her chair. When the water was brought to her, she drank a little, and finally declaring she felt too ill to sit, and must postpone the séance to another day, she rose and quitted the room and house. The disappointed sitters gazed at each other in consternation. Colonel Roster attributed all the blame to his wife. “What on earth made you allude to her dead husband in so indiscreet a manner?” he demanded, sharply. “You have just spoilt our evening! What widow ever wanted the return of Number One, to spy out her doings with Number Two? We have no one but you to thank for this disappointment!” “O! I am sorry,” cried his wife; “I thought as everybody’s relations came back through her, Mr. Brown would be sure to have done so. And it was only a surmise on my part after all. You say you know her, Baron! Is she always as sensitive as this?” “By no means,” replied Von Steinberg, “and I think she must really be feeling ill. Besides, she has no reason to fear the return of her husband, who was very good to her! I cannot believe that your allusion had anything to do with her defalcation. She felt unequal to the sitting--that is all!” “You take a load off my mind by saying so,” said Mrs. Roster, “and I can only hope that when she comes here again, you will be with us, as on this occasion.” “You are very kind,” returned Von Steinberg, “but may I ask you one question? Mrs. Brown was going to sit with you professionally, of course! What is her fee? I should like to ascertain, for the information of my friends!” “Two guineas!” replied the lady, without hesitation. “She did not ask more! I heard of her through my dressmaker, Mrs. Folkstone, but I understood that she gave her services somewhat secretly, and it was not to be talked about. I am so sorry you have missed seeing her--but perhaps you have sat with her already.” “Once or twice,” said Von Steinberg, carelessly, and then the subject dropped.