ll that could be desired. There never was a
more promising recruit or a more receptive one. Quite prepared to take
the "Voices" on trust, and to contribute liberally to the "cause," she
attended a number of psychic circles, arranged by Stephen Andrews and
other charlatans; listened to mysterious rappings and tappings coming
out of the darkness; felt inanimate objects being lifted across the
room; heard tambourines rattled by invisible hands; and unquestionably
swallowed all the traditional tomfoolery that appears to be part and
parcel of such "phenomena."

This state of things might have continued indefinitely. By, however,
an unfortunate mischance, a "medium," from whom much was expected,
went, in his endeavour to give satisfaction, a little too far. Not
keeping a vigilant eye on European happenings, he announced at one
such gathering that the "spirit" addressing the assembly was that of
Ludwig of Bavaria. As, however, Ludwig was still in the land of the
living (where, by the way, he remained for several years to come) it
was a bad slip. The result was, Lola felt her faith shaken, and,
convinced that she was being exploited, shut up her purse, and
withdrew from the promised "guidance."

II

Under stress of emotion, some women take to the bottle; others to the
Bible. With Lola Montez, however, it was a case of from Bunkum to
Boanerges, from the circle to the conventicle. Spiritualism had been
tried and found wanting. Casting about for something with which to
fill the empty niche and adjust her equilibrium, she turned to
religion for consolation. The brand she selected was that favoured by
the Methodists. One would scarcely imagine that Little Bethel would
have had much appeal to her. But perhaps its very drabness and
remoteness from the world of the footlights proved a welcome relief.

Having "got religion," Lola fastened upon it with characteristic
fervour. It occupied all her thoughts; and in the process she soon
developed what would now be dubbed a marked inferiority-complex.

"Lord," she wrote at this period, "Thy mercies are great to me. Oh!
how little are they deserved, filthy worm that I am! Oh! that the Holy
Spirit may fill my soul with prayer! Lord, have mercy on Thy weary
wanderer, and grant me all I beseech of Thee! Oh! give me a meek and
lowly heart. Amen."

A doctor, had she consulted one just then, would probably have
prescribed a blue pill.

There is a theory that the "Light" had been vouchsafe