Immediately afterwards Delapine, who was standing on tip-toe on his chair, suddenly withdrew his hands from the table as it rested poised above his head. "Stand back, stand back," shouted the professor, and as they all obeyed the instruction the table, weighing about half a hundredweight, fell with a tremendous crash, breaking one of its legs in two. "Good God!" exclaimed Marcel, "what a smash. It nearly caved my head in. I was too much interested watching it to jump back when you shouted." "Anyhow I shall have a couple of good stereo negatives to convince all unbelievers," said Riche. "It just missed my toe," said Payot, laughing, "but all the same I am not yet convinced. The professor can make the table rise in spite of our united efforts to hold it down, but I defy him to keep it down when we all try to raise it up." "I can do that with the greatest ease," said Delapine. "The question before the House," said Marcel in English, "is that Professor Delapine do exercise his will to prevent us from raising up this table while we use all our strength in lifting it. Are the honourable members agreed? I think the 'Ayes' have it." "Now, ladies and gentlemen," he continued, "let us put our fingers under the edge of the table. So--yes, that's right. Now then, one, two, three, and all together--up she goes," and the four men and the ladies strained until their arms ached, but the table refused to budge even the fraction of an inch. Suddenly Delapine removed his hands before any of the circle had time to cease pulling, and called out loudly, "I retire, you have your way." Such was the force exerted by the members of the circle that the table seemed to be thrown into the air. The jerk was so great that it sent them all reeling, and Villebois was only just in time to save his wife from falling. The guests stared at each other in amazement. "I am sorry your table is broken," said Delapine to the host, "but really you must blame the sitters for pulling so hard." "Oh, that is nothing, my dear Delapine. The carpenter can mend it to-morrow, and it will be as good as ever." "By the way, ladies and gentlemen," said the professor, "what do you say to a little music? I think it will calm our nerves, and render us in a more favourable state of mind for some far more wonderful things which I think I shall be able to show you. Perhaps Mademoiselle Payot will favour us with some sweet melody with her violin." Renée blushed, and the guests signifying their approval, she went and fetched her music. "What shall I play, Monsieur Delapine?" she asked a little nervously. "Let me see. I think Sarasate's 'Zigeunerweisen' is very charming, but no, let us have Schubert's 'Ave Maria' if you approve. It is a very sweet, soothing air. Or, if you haven't got that perfect, you might give us Chopin's 'Nocturne in E flat.' I think this haunting melody one of the most delightful refrains in the world. It is truly an inspired air."