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Laurie went to the fire to wait, and stood there,down at that sleeping core of red coal

He had taken his courage in both hands in coie, he had been conscious of a curious repulsion with regard to the whole matter--a repulsion not only of contempt towards the elaborate affectations of the woman he had determined to consult Yet he had come

What he had said just now had been perfectly true He was not yet in the least convinced, but he was anxious, intensely and passionately anxious, goaded too by desire

Ah! surely it was absurd and fantastic--here in London, in this century He turned and faced the la walls, the blue staeneral appearance of beautiful comfort and sane modern life It was absurd and fantastic; he would be disappointed again, as he had been disappointed in everything else These things did not happen--the dead did not return Step by step those things that for centuries had been deemed evidence of the supernatural, one by one had been explained and discounted Hypnotis, witchcraft, and the rest

All these had once been believed to be indisputable proofs of a life beyond the grave, of strange supernormal personalities, and these, one by one, had been either accounted for or discredited It was h with it, expecting nothing, hoping nothing But he would just go through with it to satisfy himself

The door opened, and the two ladies cahted that you called, Mr Baxter; and on such an errand!"

Lady Laura put out a hand, tre a possible disciple

"Mrs Stapleton has explained--" began Laurie

"I understand everything You come as a skeptic--no, not as a skeptic, but as an inquirer, that is all that ish Then tomorrow, at about half-past four"