e Russian ships. Then the
brave Russian Admiral remembers his promise. Just in time to save his
fleet from destruction, he signals to the British to retire.

"They obstinately refuse. The Russian fleet opens fire.

"I can see no more."

The spirit of the seeress, it will be observed, broke off its
revelations at the most interesting point, with the skill of a
practised writer of serials.

But the Czar, fairly carried away by excitement, insisted on knowing
more.

"Ask the spirit if there will be any foreign complications," he said.

I had already remarked that our invisible companion showed a good
deal of deference to the wishes of Nicholas II., perhaps in his
character of Head of the Orthodox Church.

After a little hesitation it rapped out:

"The English are angry, but they are restrained by the fear of
Germany. The German Michael casts his shield in front of Russia, and
the islanders are cowed. I cannot see all that follows. But in the
end I see that the Yellow Peril is averted by the joint action of
Russia and Germany."

This answer confirmed to the full my suspicions regarding the source
of M. Auguste's inspiration. I believed firmly that there was a
spirit present, but it was not the spirit of the deceased
theosophist, rather of a monarch who is very much alive.

The medium now professed to feel exhausted, and Madame Blavatsky was
permitted to retire.

I rose to accompany M. Auguste as soon as he made a move to retire.

"If you will let me drive you as far as my hotel," I said to him, "I
think I can show you something which will repay you for coming with
me."

The wizard looked me in the face for the first time, as he said
deliberately:

"I shall be very pleased to come."

CHAPTER XX

THE DEVIL'S AUCTION

I said as little as possible during the drive homeward.

My companion was equally silent. No doubt he, like myself, was
bracing himself for a duel of wits.

As soon as we were safe in my private room at the hotel, with a
bottle of vodka and a box of cigars in front of us, I opened the
discussion with my habitual directness.

"I need not tell you, M. Auguste, that I have not invited you here to
discuss questions of psychology. I am a politician, and it matters
nothing to me whether I am dealing with a ghost or a man, provided I
can make myself understood."

M. Auguste bowed.

"For instance, it is quite clear that the interesting revelations we
have had to-night would not hav