rictly confidential--most strictly
confidential. That's understood?"

"Most absolutely sure."

"Of course! Now, you must have heard of me--I've made quite a stir
here in Riverbank since I came. Theosophical lectures--first lessons
in Nirvana--Buddhistic philosophy--mysteries of Vedaism--et cetery."

"I read your advertisement notices into the newspapers," admitted Mr.
Gubb.

"Just so. I have done well here. Many sought the mysteries. I have
been unusually successful in Riverbank." He stopped short and looked
at Philo Gubb suspiciously. "You don't believe in transmigration, do
you?" he asked.

"Not without I do without knowing it," said Mr. Gubb. "What is it?"

"Transmigration," repeated Alibaba Singh. "It--Hindoos believe in it.
At death the souls of the good enter higher forms of life; the souls
of the bad enter lower forms of life. If you were a bad man and died
you would become a--a dog, or a horse, or--or something. You don't
believe that, do you?"

"Most certainly not at all!" said Mr. Gubb.

"I--I teach it," said Alibaba Singh uneasily. "It is part of my
teaching."

"You don't aim to believe nothing of that sort, do you?" asked Mr.
Gubb as if he could not imagine any man so foolish.

"Now, that's it!" said Alibaba Singh. "That's why I came to you. All
this is strictly confidential, of course? Thanks. I can speak right
out, Mr. Gubb? I have in the past taught some things I did not
absolutely believe."

"Quite likely true," admitted Philo Gubb.

"We--we occulists get carried on by our eloquence," said Alibaba
Singh. "We--we go too far sometimes. Far too far! I admit it. I admit
that frankly. When our clients reach out to us for more and more,
we--we sometimes go too far. I won't say we string them along. I
wouldn't say that. But we--we lead them farther than we have gone
ourselves, perhaps. You understand?"

"Almost absolutely," said Mr. Gubb.

"Just so! Mr. Gubb, one of my clients was greatly interested in
transmigration of souls--greatly interested. She was interested in all
things mystical--in reincarnation; in the return of the spirits of the
dead; in everything like that. I--really, Mr. Gubb, it was hard for me
to keep up with her."

"And you proceeded to go ahead and teach her about this transmigration
of souls that you don't believe into yourself," said Mr. Gubb
helpfully.

"And when she found out you was a faker she set out to sue you for her
money back."

"No. Not that!" said Alibab