"I know that, Mrs. Precipitancy; but what would you have me do? I don't want to believe the girl a trickster." After a pause he said: "Kate, I never felt less of a man than I acknowledged myself to be as I turned away, leaving her in the clutches of those accursed fanatics." "Why did you do it?" "What else could I do? She was entranced--I had no authority. My attempt at a rescue would have created a disgusting scene and put Clarke on his guard. My native caution and my conventional training combined to paralyze me." Kate, fired with reckless ardor, said, "Let's go and snatch her away--now!" "No, my second thought is best. Think of what Clarke's arrest would mean to the girl and to us? No, we must wait for Lambert. Clarke at present has all the authority. It won't do to push him. He would instantly trumpet her name to the four winds of heaven if he thought we were about to interfere. If Lambert heeds my warning, he will arrive on Friday, and that will prevent the challenge." "What sort of person is this Mr. Lambert?" Serviss pondered, "He's a small, mild-mannered man--not unlike a nice, thoughtful country doctor in appearance." "I wish he were six feet high, and fierce as his inches," said Kate. "If he had been that, this preacher fellow would never have been able to run away with his family." He sighed. "Well, he's all we have to conjure with. If he fails us we must resort to craft." "I wish we could get Viola and her mother here. Would they come to dinner if I should ask them? If we could get them here once we might be able to persuade them to stay." "That would not save her from the pillory in which Pratt and Clarke design to set her. We must be careful not to anger them. The girl hates and fears Pratt." "I know she does." "His air of proprietorship is fairly indecent. We must be especially careful not to rouse him. He has millions to use in asserting his claims, and is as vindictive as a wolf." Kate sat in silence for a few moments--a very unusual state with her--and at last announced her purpose. "Leave the whole thing to me. We will have Dr. Weissmann, and I will ask Clarke to come to meet you in order to talk over his plans for a committee. I'll just ignore Pratt. He's nothing but an old kill-joy, anyway." "He's worse than that. Don't brush him the wrong way. We're going to have trouble with him before we are out of this." "I don't care. I will not have him in my house," responded Kate. "Very well. He's eliminated. I hope Clarke will permit them to come." "Oh, they'll come unless Pratt absolutely locks them in their rooms. Shall I ask Marion and Paul?" "No. I want a chance to talk to our 'psychic' alone." "Very well. The table just balances, anyway. Now, about your telegram, are you going to speak to Mrs. Lambert about that?"