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Laurie changed his attitude He uncrossed his feet and sat up a little

"Oh! pray if you want to," said the medium "But you must remember, Mr Baxter, that you are quite an exceptional person I assure you that you have no conception of your oers Iline" He paused "These séances, for instance Now that you know a littleto turn back?"

His overhung kindly eyes looked out keenly for an instant at the boy's restless face

"I don't know," said Laurie; "I ot up

"Look here, Mr Vincent," he said, "it seems to me you're extraordinarily--er--extraordinarily plausible But I' s one on the top of the other"

He paused, looking sharply at the elder ain

"Yes?"

Laurie began to finger a pencil that lay on the chimney-shelf

"You see what I --er--your point of view, nor your sincerity But I do wish you would give h?"

"Oh! I suppose I have--if I were reasonable But, you know, it all seems to me as if you suddenly demonstrated to me that twice two made five"

"But then, surely no proof--"

"Yes; I know I quite see that Yet I want one--so quite absolutely ordinary If you can do all these things--spirits and all the rest--can't you do so ever so much simpler, that's beyond mistake?"

"Oh, I daresay But wouldn't you ask yet another after that?"

"I don't know"

"Or wouldn't you think you'd been hypnotized?"

Laurie shook his head

"I'ivehis hand

Laurie stared a moment Then he handed over the pencil

On the little table by the arm-chair, a couple of feet froarettes These thefrom his chair, lifted off and set on the floor beside hirass surface of the table entirely bare He then laid the pencil gently in the center--all without a word Laurie watched him carefully

"Now kindly do not speak one word or make one movement," said the man peremptorily "Wait! You're perfectly sure you're not hypnotized, or any other nonsense?"