been so to me had I had a personal part, other than my
interest in Miss Trelawny, in the matter. As it was, however, I stood
it unruffled. I was now an attorney in the case; an amicus curiae in
one sense, in another retained for the defence. The mere thought that
in this clever man's mind were two lines, equally strong and opposite,
was in itself so consoling as to neutralise my anxiety as to a new
attack. As he began to speak, the Doctor's face wore an inscrutable
smile; this, however, gave place to a stern gravity as he proceeded:

"Two lines: Fact and--Fancy! In the first there is this whole thing;
attacks, attempts at robbery and murder; stupefyings; organised
catalepsy which points to either criminal hypnotism and thought
suggestion, or some simple form of poisoning unclassified yet in our
toxicology. In the other there is some influence at work which is not
classified in any book that I know--outside the pages of romance. I
never felt in my life so strongly the truth of Hamlet's words:

'There are more things in Heaven and earth...
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'

"Let us take the 'Fact' side first. Here we have a man in his home;
amidst his own household; plenty of servants of different classes in
the house, which forbids the possibility of an organised attempt made
from the servants" hall. He is wealthy, learned, clever. From his
physiognomy there is no doubting that he is a man of iron will and
determined purpose. His daughter--his only child, I take it, a young
girl bright and clever--is sleeping in the very next room to his.
There is seemingly no possible reason for expecting any attack or
disturbance of any kind; and no reasonable opportunity for any outsider
to effect it. And yet we have an attack made; a brutal and remorseless
attack, made in the middle of the night. Discovery is made quickly;
made with that rapidity which in criminal cases generally is found to
be not accidental, but of premeditated intent. The attacker, or
attackers, are manifestly disturbed before the completion of their
work, whatever their ultimate intent may have been. And yet there is
no possible sign of their escape; no clue, no disturbance of anything;
no open door or window; no sound. Nothing whatever to show who had
done the deed, or even that a deed has been done; except the victim,
and his surroundings incidental to the deed!

"The next night a similar attempt is made, though the house is