men either lose their senses,
or attain the highest powers of magic, that is, of commanding nature by
mastering the force, whatever it may be, here called zoo-electric, which
conquers and controls every modification of matter. [315] His lecture
concluded with an account of a Moorish necromancer, which reminds us
of the Maghrabi incident in "the Story of Judar." When Burton sat down,
Mrs. Burton asked to be allowed to speak. Indeed, she never hesitated to
speak upon any subject under the sun, whether she did not understand it,
as was almost invariably the case, or whether she did; and she always
spoke agreeably. [316] She pointed out to the spiritualists that they
had no grounds to suppose that her husband was one of their number, and
stated her belief that the theory of zoo-electricity would suit both
spiritualists and non-spiritualists. Then, as a matter of course, she
deftly introduced the "one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" to which
it was her "glory to belong," and which this theory of Burton's "did not
exactly offend." As regards the yogis and the necromancers she insisted
that her husband had expressed no belief, but simply recounted what
is practised in the East, and she concluded with the remark, "Captain
Burton is certainly not a spiritualist." Some good-humoured comments
by various speakers terminated the proceedings. It is quite certain,
however, that Burton was more of a spiritualist than Mrs. Burton would
allow, and of Mrs. Burton herself in this connection, we shall later
have a curious story to tell. [317]

During the rest of her holiday Mrs. Burton's thoughts ran chiefly on
philanthropic work, and she arranged gatherings at country houses in
support of the society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These
were well attended and some enthusiasm was shown, except when there
happened to be a meet of the fox hounds in the district, or when rabbit
coursing was going on.

97. Still thinking of Midian. April-December 1879.

The Burtons remained in London until after the publication of Mrs.
Burton's book "A.E.I.," [318] and then Burton set out alone on a tour
through Germany. Mrs. Burton, who was to meet him at Trieste, left
London 27th April; and then followed a chapter of accidents. First she
fell with influenza, and next, at Paris, when descending the stairs,
which had been waxed, she "took one header from the top to the bottom,"
and so damaged herself that she had to be removed in a coup