"Mr. Morton," he cried, "Mr. Morton!" in an odd voice that seemed on
the point of cracking into falsetto. Certainly he was very like a
portly bird, thought Laurie.

The other turned round, nodded with short geniality, and slid into the
chair from which the old man moved his hat and stick with zealous
haste.

"And what are you doing here?" said Mr. Morton.

"Just taking a bite like yourself," said the other. "Friday--worse
luck."

Laurie was conscious of a touch of interest. This man was a Catholic,
then, he supposed.

"Oh, by the way," said Mr. Morton, "have you--er--" and he indicated
Laurie. "No...? Baxter, let me introduce Mr. Cathcart."

For a moment the name meant nothing to Laurie; then he remembered; but
his rising suspicions were quelled instantly by his friend's next
remark.

"By the way, Cathcart, we were talking of you a week or two ago."

"Indeed! I am flattered," said the old man perkily. Yes, "perky" was
the word, thought Laurie.

"Mr. Baxter here is interested in Spiritualism--rump steak, waiter,
and pint of bitter--and I told him you were the man for him."

Laurie interiorly drew in his horns.

"A--er--an experimenter?" asked the old man, with courteous interest,
his eyes giving a quick gleam beneath his glasses.

"A little."

"Yes. Most dangerous--most dangerous.... And any success, Mr.
Baxter?"

Laurie felt his annoyance deepen.

"Very considerable success," he said shortly.

"Ah, yes--you must forgive me, sir; but I have had a good deal of
experience, and I must say--You are a Catholic, I see," he said,
interrupting himself. "Or a High Churchman."

"I am a Catholic," said Laurie.

"So'm I. But I gave up spiritualism as soon as I became one. Very
interesting experiences, too; but--well, I value my soul too much, Mr.
Baxter."

Mr. Morton put a large piece of potato into his mouth with a detached
air.

It was really rather trying, thought Laurie, to be catechized in this
way; so he determined to show superiority.

"And you think it all superstition and nonsense?" he asked.

"Indeed, no," said the old man shortly.

Laurie pushed his plate on one side, and drew the cheese towards him.
This was a little more interesting, he thought, but he was still far
from feeling communicative.

"What then?" he asked.

"Oh, very real indeed," said the old man. "That is just the danger."

"The danger?"

"Yes, Mr. Baxter. Of course there's plenty of fraud and trickery; we
all know t