“Then it will be all the more of a triumph, if we convince him,” declared Hallowell. “Understand, young man,” he proclaimed loudly, “I am not a spiritualist. I am merely conducting an investigation. I want the truth. If you, or my niece, detect any fraud tonight, I want to know it.” Including in his speech the others in the room, he glared suspiciously in turn at each. “Keep your eyes open,” he ordered, “you will be serving me quite as much as you will Miss Coates.” Miss Coates and Lee thanked him and, recognizing themselves as the opposition and in the minority, withdrew for consultation into a corner of the bay window. Vance approached Mr. Hallowell. “If you are ready,” he said, “we will examine the cabinet. Shall I wheel it over here, or will you look at it where it is?” “If it is to be in that corner during the seance,” declared Mr. Hallowell, “I’ll look at it where it is.” As he struggled from his chair, he turned to Mrs. Marsh, and nodded his head knowingly. “You see, Mrs. Marsh,” he said, “I am taking no chances.” “That is quite right, Mr. Hallowell,” purred the old lady. “If there be any doubt in your mind, you must get rid of it, or we will have no results.” With a dramatic gesture, Vance swept aside from the opening in the cabinet the black velvet curtain. “It’s a simple affair,” he said indifferently. “As you see, it’s open at the top and bottom. The medium sits inside on that chair, bound hand and foot.” In turn, Mr. Hallowell, Mrs. Marsh, Gaylor, Rainey, Professor Strombergk entered the cabinet. With their knuckles they beat upon its sides. They moved it to and fro. They dropped to their knees, and with their fingers tugged at the carpet upon which it stood. Under cover of their questions, in the corner of the bay window, Miss Coates whispered to Lee; “Don’t look now,” she warned, “but later, you will see on the left of that door the switch that throws on the lights. When I am sure she is outside the cabinet, when she has told him not to give the money to me, I’ll cry now! and whichever one of us is seated nearer the switch will turn on all the lights. I think,” Miss Coates added with, in her voice, a thrill of triumph not altogether free from a touch of vindictiveness, “when my uncle sees her caught in the middle of the room, disguised as his sister--we will have cured him.” “It may be,” said the man. The possibility of success as Miss Coates pointed it out did not appear to stir in him any great delight. He glanced unwillingly over his shoulder. “I see the switch,” he said. Leaning on the arm of Gaylor, Mr. Hallowell returned from the cabinet to his chair. What he had seen apparently strengthened his faith and, in like degree, inspired him to greater enthusiasm. “Well,” he exclaimed, “there are no trapdoors or false bottoms about that! If they can project a spirit from that sentry box, it will be a miracle. For whom are we waiting?” he asked impatiently. “Where is Winthrop?”