In a few seconds the form could be distinctly seen moving towards the guests. She approached Renée who recognised her in the dim light. "Is that you, darling mother?" she cried, "you don't seem changed a bit." "Yes, Renée, I am your mother, and you don't appear changed either, as I have seen you ever so many times since I passed over. I have often stood at your bedside and watched over you. Turn the lamp higher, I have power enough left to stand it for a few moments. But I must envelope myself in a white garment just to prevent the light from affecting me." They turned the light up, and all the guests beheld the features of a beautiful woman with light golden-brown wavy hair, enveloped in a white gauze-like fabric. "Pray don't touch me," she said to Payot, who tried to put his arms round her. "You will kill my medium if you do." "What!" said Villebois, "Do you mean to say that it will injure M. Delapine?" "Indeed it will," she replied, "but I cannot tell you the reason." "Oh, my dear husband," she said, "promise me that you will be kind to my little Renée. Your conduct to her since I passed over has caused me such intense grief." "I promise," said Payot, feeling heartily ashamed of himself. "May I take a photograph with a flashlight?" enquired Riche. "You may, but you will not see me any more, for it will cause my form to melt away. As it is, I can only stay a few minutes." "Oh, mother dear," said Renée, "give me a kiss--just one kiss before you leave me." "Do not be anxious, Renée. I shall see you again very soon. And now, sir, you may take my photograph as I am about to be called away." Riche, having focused the camera, pressed the ball, and a dazzling light followed as the magnesium powder blazed up. Everyone saw the figure of Renée's mother and Delapine asleep behind her in the cabinet. As the smoke dispersed, the guests observed the figure slowly melting away in the air. She was gone. A female voice was heard behind the curtain, "Au revoir, Renée, my child, I shall soon see you again." Villebois turned up the light and looked into the cabinet. Delapine was sleeping like a child. He stepped up to the professor as if to wake him, but Riche remembering his orders, sprang forward and pulled him back. "Don't let anyone wake Delapine," he cried. "He warned me to allow no one to disturb him, but to let him wake up naturally." Suddenly Marcel called out, "Riche, Riche come here quickly. Don't you smell something?" "Yes," said Riche, "you are right, there is something burning, I can smell it." They both ran into the next room, and on opening the door found the landing full of dense smoke. Hurrying back they each took one of the girls by the arm and rushed out of the room and through the conservatory into the garden, followed by Payot, while Villebois ran after them with Madame Villebois on his arm. But they were all too concerned about their own safety to bestow a thought on the professor, who remained in the cabinet.