an effort to think. He felt dimly rather
proud of himself.

"It was quite short. Then you came back and looked at Lady Laura. Try
to remember."

"I remember thinking I had heard a sound."

The medium nodded.

"Just so," he said.

"That would be the third," said Lady Laura, nodding sagely.

"Third what?" said Laurie rather rudely.

No one paid any attention to him.

"Now can you give any account of the last hour and a half?" continued
the medium tranquilly.

Laurie considered again. He was still a little confused.

"I remember thinking about the streets," he said, "and then of my own
home, and then..." He stopped.

"Yes; and then?"

"Then of a certain private matter."

"Ah! We must not pry then. But can you answer one question more? Was
it connected with any person who has crossed over?"

"It was," said Laurie shortly.

"Just so," said the medium.

Laurie felt suspicious.

"Why do you ask that?" he said.

Mr. Vincent looked at him steadily.

"I think I had better tell you, Mr. Baxter; it is more straightforward,
though you will not like it. You will be surprised to hear that you
talked very considerably during this hour and a half; and from all that
you said I should suppose you were controlled by a spirit recently
crossed over--a young girl who on being questioned gave the name of Amy
Nugent--"

Laurie sprang to his feet, furious.

"You have been spying, sir. How dare you--"

"Sit down, Mr. Baxter, or you shall not hear a word more," rang out
the imperious, unruffled voice. "Sit down this instant."

Laurie shot a look at the two ladies. Then he remembered himself. He
sat down.

"I am not at all angry, Mr. Baxter," came the voice, suave and kindly
again. "Your thought was very natural. But I think I can prove to you
that you are mistaken."

Mr. Vincent glanced at Mrs. Stapleton with an almost imperceptible
frown, then back at Laurie.

"Let me see, Mr. Baxter.... Is there anyone on earth besides yourself
who knew that you had sat out, about ten days ago or so, under some
yew trees in your garden at home, and thought of this young girl--that
you--"

Laurie looked at him in dumb dismay; some little sound broke from his
mouth.

"Well, is that enough, Mr. Baxter?"

Lady Laura slid in a sentence here.

"Dear Mr. Baxter, you need not be in the least alarmed. All that has
passed here is, of course, as sacred as in the confessional. We should
not dream, without your leave--"

"One mo