these matters even so slightly as I myself, can feel
the coming of events."

"Give us an instance," Lady Mary begged. "Tell us of something that is
going to happen."

Saton moved a little back. His face was unnaturally pale.

"No!" he answered. "Don't ask me that. Remember, this is not a game.
It might even happen that I should tell you something terrifying. I am
sorry that I've talked like this," he went on, a little wildly. "I am
sorry that I came here to-night. Before I came I felt it coming. If
you will excuse me, Lady Mary----"

She held out her hands and refused to accept his adieux.

"You shall not go!" she declared. "There is something in your mind.
You could tell us something if you would."

Saton looked around, as one genuinely anxious to escape. On the
outskirts of the circle he saw Rochester, smiling faintly, half
amused, half contemptuous, and by his side the parchment-like face of
Lord Guerdon, whose eyes seemed riveted upon his.

"My dear Saton," Rochester said, "pray don't disappoint us of our
thrill, after all this most effective preliminary. You believe that
you possess a gift which we none of us share. Give us a proof of it.
No one here is afraid to hear the truth. Is it one specific thing you
could tell?"

"One specific thing," Saton answered quickly, "about to happen to one
person, and one person only."

"Is it a man or a woman?" Rochester asked.

"A man!" was the quick reply.

Rochester glanced carelessly around the little circle.

"Come," he said, "the women can have their thrill. There is nothing to
fear. Penarvon here has all the pluck in the world. Hinckley is a V.C.
Captain Vandermere is a soldier, and I will answer for it that he has
no nerves. Guerdon and I, I am sure, are safe. Let us hear your
gruesome prophecy, my dear Saton, and if it comes true, we will form a
little society, and you shall be our apostle. We will study occultism
in place of bridge. We will be the founders of a new cult."

Saton pushed them away from him. His face was almost ghastly.

"It is not fair, this," he cried. "You do not know what you are
asking. Can't you feel it, any of you others, as I do?" he exclaimed,
looking a little wildly around. "There is something else in the room,
something else besides you warm and living people. Be still, all of
you."

There was a moment's breathless silence. Some papers on the table
rustled. A picture on the wall shook. Lady Mary sat down in a chair.
Lois gave