octor Lagarde's hand,
and appealed to the retiring Captain with a broad stare of astonishment.

"You don't really believe this?" he said.

"I only say I have heard enough," Captain Bervie answered.

Mr. Linwood could hardly fail to see that any further attempt to treat
the matter lightly might lead to undesirable results.

"It is difficult to speak seriously of this kind of exhibition," he
resumed quietly. "But I suppose I may mention a mere matter of fact,
without meaning or giving offense. The description of the lady, I can
positively declare, does not apply in any single particular to any one
whom I know."

Captain Bervie turned round at the door. His patience was in some danger
of failing him. Mr. Linwood's unruffled composure, assisted in its
influence by the presence of Madame Lagarde, reminded him of the claims
of politeness. He restrained the rash words as they rose to his lips.
"You may make new acquaintances, sir," was all that he said. "_You_ have
the future before you."

Upon that, he went out. Percy Linwood waited a little, reflecting on the
Captain's conduct.

Had Doctor Lagarde's description of the lady accidentally answered the
description of a living lady whom Captain Bervie knew? Was he by any
chance in love with her? and had the Doctor innocently reminded him that
his love was not returned? Assuming this to be likely, was it really
possible that he believed in prophetic revelations offered to him under
the fantastic influence of a trance? Could any man in the possession
of his senses go to those lengths? The Captain's conduct was simply
incomprehensible.

Pondering these questions, Percy decided on returning to his place by
the Doctor's chair. "Of one thing I am certain, at any rate," he thought
to himself. "I'll see the whole imposture out before I leave the house!"

He took Doctor Lagarde's hand. "Now, then! what is the next discovery?"
he asked.

The sleeper seemed to find some difficulty in answering the question.

"I indistinctly see the man and the woman again," he said.

"Am I the man still?" Percy inquired.

"No. The man, this time, is the Captain. The woman is agitated by
something that he is saying to her. He seems to be trying to persuade
her to go away with him. She hesitates. He whispers something in her
ear. She yields. He leads her away. The darkness gathers behind them. I
look and look, and I can see no more."

"Shall we wait awhile?" Percy suggested, "and then try aga