These, I was told, were the spirits' knocks. I was
informed that one knock, in answer to a question, meant 'No;' that two
knocks meant 'Not yet;' and that three knocks meant 'Yes.'

In answer to a question whether I was a medium, the response was three
brisk and vigorous knocks. I noticed that the knocks issued from a
particular locality, and therefore requested the spirits to be good
enough to answer from another corner of the table. They did not
comply; but I was assured that they would do it, and much more,
by-and-by. The knocks continuing, I turned a wine-glass upside down,
and placed my ear upon it, as upon a stethoscope. The spirits seemed
disconcerted by the act; they lost their playfulness, and did not
recover it for a considerable time.

Somewhat weary of the proceedings, I once threw myself back against my
chair and gazed listlessly out of the window. While thus engaged, the
table was rudely pushed. Attention was drawn to the wine, still
oscillating in the glasses, and I was asked whether that was not
convincing. I readily granted the fact of motion, and began to feel
the delicacy of my position. There were several pairs of arms upon
the table, and several pairs of legs under it; but how was I, without
offence, to express the conviction which I really entertained? To
ward off the difficulty, I again turned a wine-glass upside down and
rested my ear upon it. The rim of the glass was not level, and my
hair, on touching it, caused it to vibrate, and produce a peculiar
buzzing sound. A perfectly candid and warm-hearted old gentleman at
the opposite side of the table, whom I may call A, drew attention to
the sound, and expressed his entire belief that it was spiritual. I,
however, informed him that it was the moving hair acting on the glass.
The explanation was not well received; and X, in a tone of severe
pleasantry, demanded whether it was the hair that had moved the table.
The promptness of my negative probably satisfied him that my notion
was a very different one.

The superhuman power of the spirits was next dwelt upon. The strength
of man, it was stated, was unavailing in opposition to theirs. No
human power could prevent the table from moving when they pulled it.
During the evening this pulling of the table occurred, or rather was
attempted, three times. Twice the table moved when my attention was
withdrawn from it; on a third occasion, I tried whether the act could
be provoked by an assu