"You talk like that because you don't understand the subject. The things you mention are only the outward manifestation of spiritualism. If you read Kardec's books you would find that the true theory of spiritualism is transmigration. Spirits are incarnated in human bodies in order to work out their own advancement. If they resist temptation while in the flesh, they enter into a higher sphere, in order to advance another step. If they fail to lead a pure life, they again become re-incarnated in the flesh to make another effort; but they never retrograde." "And you believe in this doctrine?" asked Beaumont, incredulously. "With certain reservations--yes." "And those reservations?" "I need not mention all, but I will tell you one as an example. The spiritists deny that we remember former existences--I believe we do." "Oh! and you think in your next body you will remember your incarnation as Squire Garsworth?" "I do." "Do you remember your former existences?" "Some of them." "Why not all?" "Because some of the lives I then lived were base in the extreme, and not worthy of remembrance, so I forgot them--in the same way as you forget disagreeable things and only have thoughts of agreeable events." "Will you tell me some of your former existences?" "It would be hardly worth while," replied the squire, irritably, "as you would only look upon my narration as a fairy-tale. But I can tell you what I was--an Egyptian prince, a Roman soldier, a Spanish Moor, and an English pauper in the reign of Elizabeth." Beaumont looked in astonishment at the old man, glibly running off this fantastic list. "And since the pauper stage?" he asked, smothering a smile. "I have been re-incarnated in this present form," responded the squire, gravely; "it is because I experienced poverty in my last existence that I am saving money now." "I don't understand." "To keep myself during my next incarnation." The artist was becoming quite bewildered at hearing this farrago of nonsense uttered in such a serious tone. However the conversation was so extraordinary that he could not forbear humouring the madman. "A very laudable intention," he said, quietly, "but as you will be someone else in your next incarnation, how are you going to claim Squire Garsworth's money?" "Ah!" responded the squire, with a cunning smile, "that is my secret; I have arranged all that in a most admirable way. I can claim my own money without any trouble." "But suppose you are born a savage?" "I will not be born a savage--that would be retrogression, and spirits never retrograde." "Well," said Beaumont, rising to his feet, and putting his brushes away, "your conversation is getting too deep for me, Mr. Garsworth. I understand your metempsychosis theory all right, though I don't agree with it; but I fail to see how you are going to arrange about getting your own money."