as shown
that _Zohar_ is of modern origin. With singular effrontery, it cites an
author who is known to have lived during the eleventh century, mentions
the Crusades, and records events which occurred in the year of Our Lord
1264. It was some time before 1291 that copies of _Zohar_ began to be
circulated by a Spanish Jew named Moses de Leon, who claimed to possess
an autograph manuscript by the reputed author Schimeon ben Jochai. But
when Moses de Leon was gathered to the bosom of his father Abraham, a
wealthy Hebrew, Joseph de Avila, promised the scribe's widow, who had
been left destitute, that his son should marry her daughter, to whom
he would pay a handsome dowry, if she would give him the original
manuscript from which these copies were made. But the widow (one can
imagine with what gnashing of teeth) was obliged to confess that she had
no such manuscript, for Moses de Leon had composed _Zohar_ out of his own
head, and written it with his own right hand.'

Arthur got up to stretch his legs. He gave a laugh.

'I never know how much you really believe of all these things you tell
us. You speak with such gravity that we are all taken in, and then it
turns out that you've been laughing at us.'

'My dear friend, I never know myself how much I believe,' returned Dr
Porhoet.

'I wonder if it is for the same reason that Mr Haddo puzzles us so much,'
said Susie.

'Ah, there you have a case that is really interesting,' replied the
doctor. 'I assure you that, though I know him fairly intimately, I have
never been able to make up my mind whether he is an elaborate practical
joker, or whether he is really convinced he has the wonderful powers to
which he lays claim.'

'We certainly saw things last night that were not quite normal,' said
Susie. 'Why had that serpent no effect on him though it was able to kill
the rabbit instantaneously? And how are you going to explain the violent
trembling of that horse, Mr. Burdon?'

'I can't explain it,' answered Arthur, irritably, 'but I'm not inclined
to attribute to the supernatural everything that I can't immediately
understand.'

'I don't know what there is about him that excites in me a sort of
horror,' said Margaret. 'I've never taken such a sudden dislike to
anyone.'

She was too reticent to say all she felt, but she had been strangely
affected last night by the recollection of Haddo's words and of his acts.
She had awakened more than once from a nightmare in which he ass