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〃It is curious； Herr von Funkelstein； how often； if you meet with
something new to you； you fall in with it again almost immediately。
I found an article on Biology in the newspaper； the very day after
our conversation on the subject。 But absurd as the whole thing is；
it is quite surpassed by a letter in to…day's Times about
spirit…rapping and mediums； and what not！〃
This observation of the host at once opened the whole question of
those physico…psychological phenomena to which the name of
spiritualism has been so absurdly applied。 Mr。 Arnold was profound
in his contempt of the whole system； if not very profound in his
arguments against it。 Every one had something to remark in
opposition to the notions which were so rapidly gaining ground in
the country； except Funkelstein； who maintained a rigid silence。
This silence could not continue long without attracting the
attention of the rest of the party； upon which Mr。 Arnold said：
〃You have not given us your opinion on the subject； Herr von
Funkelstein。〃
〃I have not； Mr。 Arnold；I should not like to encounter the
opposition of so many fair adversaries； as well as of my host。〃
〃We are in England； sir； and every man is at liberty to say what he
thinks。 For my part； I think it all absurd； if not improper。〃
〃I would not willingly differ from you； Mr。 Arnold。 And I confess
that a great deal that finds its way into the public prints； does
seem very ridiculous indeed； but I am bound； for truth's sake； to
say； that I have seen more than I can account for； in that kind of
thing。 There are strange stories connected with my own family；
which； perhaps； incline me to believe in the supernatural； and；
indeed； without making the smallest pretence to the dignity of what
they call a medium； I have myself had some curious experiences。 I
fear I have some natural proclivity towards what you despise。 But I
beg that my statement of my own feelings on the subject； may not
interfere in the least with the prosecution of the present
conversation； for I am quite capable of drawing pleasure from
listening to what I am unable to agree with。〃
〃But let us hear your arguments； strengthened by your facts； in
opposition to ours； for it will be impossible to talk with a silent
judge amongst us；〃 Hugh ventured to say。
〃I set up for no judge； Mr。 Sutherland； I assure you； and perhaps I
shall do my opinions more justice by remaining silent； seeing I am
conscious of utter inability to answer the a priori arguments which
you in particular have brought against them。 All I would venture to
say is； that an a priori argument may owe its force to a mistaken
hypothesis with regard to the matter in question； and that the true
Baconian method； which is the glory of your English philosophy；
would be to inquire first what the thing is； by recording
observations and experiments made in its supposed direction。〃
〃At least Herr von Funkelstein has the best of the argument now； I
am compelled to confess；〃 said Hugh。
Funkelstein bowed stiffly； and was silent。
〃You rouse our curiosity；〃 said Mr。 Arnold； 〃but I fear； after the
free utterance which we have already given to our own judgments； in
ignorance； of course； of your greater experience； you will not be
inclined to make us wiser by communicating any of the said
experience； however much we may desire to hear it。〃
Had he been speaking to one of less evident social standing than
Funkelstein； Mr。 Arnold； if dying with curiosity； would not have
expressed the least wish to be made acquainted with his experiences。
He would have sat in apparent indifference； but in real anxiety
that some one else would draw him out； and thus gratify his
curiosity without endangering his dignity。
〃I do not think；〃 replied Funkelstein； 〃that it is of any use to
bring testimony to bear on such a matter。 I have seento use the
words of some one else； I forget whom； on a similar subjectI have
seen with my own eyes what I certainly should never have believed on
the testimony of another。 Consequently； I have no right to expect
that my testimony should be received。 Besides； I do not wish it to
be received； although I confess I shrink from presenting it with a
certainty of its being rejected。 I have no wish to make converts to
my opinions。〃
〃Really； Herr von Funkelstein； at the risk of your considering me
importunate； I would beg〃
〃Excuse me； Mr。 Arnold。 The recital of some of the matters to which
you refer； would not only be painful to myself； but would be
agitating to the ladies present。〃
〃In that case； I have only to beg your pardon for pressing the
matterI hope no further than to the verge of incivility。〃
〃In no degree approaching it； I assure you； Mr。 Arnold。 In proof
that I do not think so； I am ready； if you wish italthough I
rather dread the possible effects on the nerves of the ladies；
especially as this is an old houseto repeat； with the aid of those
present； certain experiments which I have sometimes found perhaps
only too successful。〃
〃Oh！ I don't；〃 said Euphra； faintly。
An expression of the opposite desire followed； however； from the
other ladies。 Their curiosity seemed to strive with their fears；
and to overcome them。
〃I hope we shall have nothing to do with it in any other way than
merely as spectators？〃 said Mrs。 Elton。
〃Nothing more than you please。 It is doubtful if you can even be
spectators。 That remains to be seen。〃
〃Good gracious！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Elton。
Lady Emily looked at her with surprisealmost reproof。
〃I beg your pardon； my dear； but it sounds so dreadful。 What can it
be？〃
〃Let me entreat you； ladies； not to imagine that I am urging you to
anything；〃 said Funkelstein。
〃Not in the least；〃 replied Mrs。 Elton。 〃I was very foolish。〃 And
the old lady looked ashamed； and was silent。
〃Then if you will allow me； I will make one small preparation。 Have
you a tool…chest anywhere； Mr。 Arnold？〃
〃There must be tools enough about the place； I know。 I will ring
for Atkins。〃
〃I know where the tool chest is；〃 said Hugh； 〃and； if you will allow
me a suggestion； would it not be better the servants should know
nothing about this？ There are some foolish stories afloat amongst
them already。〃
〃A very proper suggestion； Mr。 Sutherland；〃 said Mr。 Arnold；
graciously。 〃Will you find all that is wanted； then？〃
〃What tools do you want？〃 asked Hugh。
〃Only a small drill。 Could you get me an earthenware platenot
chinatoo？〃
〃I will manage that；〃 said Euphra。
Hugh soon returned with the drill； and Euphra with the plate。 The
Bohemian； with some difficulty； and the remark that the English ware
was very hard； drilled a small hole in the rim of the platea
dinner…plate； then begging an H B drawing…pencil from Miss Cameron；
cut off a small piece； and fitted it into the hole； making it just
long enough to touch the table with its point when the plate lay in
its ordinary position。
〃Now I am ready；〃 said he。 〃But；〃 he added； raising his head； and
looking all round the room； as if a sudden thought had struck
him〃I do not think this room will be quite satisfactory。〃
They were now in the drawing…room。
〃Choose the room in the house that will suit you；〃 said Mr。 Arnold。
〃The dining…room？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 answered Funkelstein； as he took from his
watch…chain a small compass and laid it on the table。 〃Not the
dining…room； nor the breakfast…roomI think。 Let me seehow is it
situated？〃 He went to the hall； as if to refresh his memory； and
then looked again at the compass。 〃No； not the breakfast…room。〃
Hugh could not help thinking there was more or less of the charlatan
about the man。
〃The library？〃 suggested Lady Emily。
They adjourned to the library to see。 The library would do。 After
some further difficulty； they succeeded in procuring a large sheet
of paper and fastening it down to the table by drawing…pins。 Only
two candles were in the great room； and it was scarcely lighted at
all by them； yet Funkelstein requested that one of these should be
extinguished； and the other removed to a table near the door。 He
then said； solemnly：
〃Let me request silence； absolute silence； and quiescence of thought
even。〃
After stillness had settled down with outspread wings of intensity；
he resumed：
〃Will any one； or； better； two of you； touch the plate as lightly as
possible with your fingers？〃
All hung back for a moment。 Then Mr。 Arnold came forward。
〃I will；〃 said he； and laid his fingers on the plate。
〃As lightly as possible； if you please。 If the plate moves； follow
it with your fingers； but be sure not to push it in any direction。〃
〃I understand；〃 said Mr。 Arnold； and silence fell again。
The Bohemian； after a pause； spoke once more； but in a foreign
tongue。 The words sounded first like entreaty； then like command；
and at last； almost like imprecation。 The ladies shuddered。
〃Any movement of the vehicle？〃 said he to Mr。 Arnold。
If by the vehicle you mean the plate； certainly not；〃 said Mr。
Arnold solemnly。 But the ladies were very glad of the pretext for
attempting a laugh； in order to get rid of the oppression which they
had felt for some time。
〃Hush！〃 said Funkelstein；