greed that it would be a fearful blow to Benjamin Crane's pride,
but he held that the author of the book about Peter would receive no
blame and the fame of the affair would be world-wide, which would make
up for the blow to the author's vanity.

Peter was not convinced of this, but agreed to go ahead as Wise
suggested. Indeed, he had no choice, for it now rested on his statements
whether an innocent man was tried for crime or not.

The medium was completely suborned. She was instructed that if she
obeyed orders implicitly and succeeded in fulfilling the desires of her
new employers, she would be paid a large sum of money, and enabled to
leave the country secretly and safety.

For, after all, she was doing no more than the great army of "mediums"
all over the world, and if she achieved good at last, they wished no
harm to come to her.

"Moreover," as Peter said, "she was a great comfort to my parents in my
absence, and when they know of my presence, they'll have no further use
for Madame!"

The _seance_ was staged in the Crane home.

It was a simple matter for Madame Parlato to persuade Benjamin Crane to
allow her to hold a session there, promising him a probable
materialization of his son, if allowed to attempt it in the scenes
familiar to Peter Boots.

It was pathetic to see the hope and joy on the faces of Peter's father
and mother as they were offered this experience. Gladly they accepted
the proposition, and when the medium further advised them to invite a
few friends, they willingly did so.

It was not announced that materialization was expected,--Madame Parlato
preferred it should not be, she said; so the friends were merely asked
to a _seance_.

After all, Zizi, who had charge of the invitations informed them,
interest must be falling off, for no one was coming except Miss Harper,
who would also bring Mr. Shelby.

However, with the Crane household, that made quite a group, and as
Detective Weston had heard about it, and asked to be present he also had
a seat, in the rear of the room.

There was no air of secrecy, the waiting audience were receptive,
hopeful or skeptical as their natures prompted.

Shelby and Carlotta whispered to each other that they were glad to see
a specimen of the genius that had hoaxed so able a mind as Benjamin
Crane's. Julie was out of sorts and sad, for she disliked the whole
subject, and pitied her father and mother for their absorption in it.

At last Madame Parlato app