daughter, at a word from me, will in the same
order and in the same manner touch each of those already touched. I
myself will, during the whole of the time, stand at the far end of the
hall, so that there can be no sort of communication between us."

So saying, Sclamowsky left the stage, and walking down the room, placed
himself with his back against the wall, and fixed his gaze upon the
motionless form of his daughter.

As I looked back at him, even though separated from him by the length of
the hall, I could see the strange glitter and flash of his eyes. It gave
me an uncomfortable, uneasy feeling; and I turned my face again towards
the stage, where the good-natured rector was following out the
directions he had received.

He lifted Anna Sclamowsky's arm, which, on his relaxing his hold, fell
limp and lifeless by her side; he snapped his fingers suddenly close
before her wide-open eyes without producing even a quiver of a muscle in
her set face. He shouted in her ear; shook her by the shoulders; but
all without succeeding in making her show any sign of consciousness. He
then tied a handkerchief over her eyes; and, leaving the stage, went
about through the room, touching people here and there as he went,
pursuing a most tortuous course, and ended at last by placing his hand
upon Aunt Phoebe's diamond necklace. He then bowed to the Professor to
intimate that we were ready to see the conclusion of the experiment.

Sclamowsky moved forward about a pace, beckoned with his hand, and
called, not loudly but distinctly, "Anna!"

Without a moment's hesitation the girl, still blindfolded, rose, walked
swiftly down the steps which led from the stage to the floor of the
hall, and with startling exactness reproduced Mr. Danby's actions. In
and out through the benches she passed amid a silence of breathless
interest, touching each person in exactly the same spot as Mr. Danby had
done a few minutes previously.

I saw Aunt Phoebe drawing herself up rigidly as Anna Sclamowsky came
towards our bench and, amid deafening applause, laid her finger upon the
Anstruther diamonds. The clapping and noise produced no effect upon the
girl. She stood motionless as though she had been a statue, her hand
still upon the necklace.

Whether Aunt Phoebe was aggravated by the complete success of the
experiment or annoyed at having been obliged to take so prominent a part
in it, I do not know, but she certainly was a good deal out of temper;
for w