ask them to send the most accomplished and experienced men in the
service. But they are only concerned with crime. This may be
outside their scope."

"We cannot say as to that. We cannot even assert that this is not
a crime. We know nothing."

"A crime needs a criminal, Mannering."

"That is so; but what would be criminal, if human agency were
responsible for it, might, nevertheless, be the work of forces to
which the word criminal cannot be applied."

Sir Walter stared at him.

"Is it possible you suggest a supernatural cause for this?"

The doctor shook his head.

"Emphatically not, though I am not a materialist, as you are aware.
My generation of practitioners has little difficulty in reconciling
our creed with our cult, though few of the younger men are able to
do so, I admit. But science is science, and not for a moment do I
imagine anything supernatural here. I think, however, there are
unconscious forces at work, and those responsible for setting those
forces in action would be criminals without a doubt, if they knew
what they were doing. The man who fires a rifle at an animal, if
he hits and kills it, is the destroyer, though he may operate from
half a mile away. On the other hand, the agents may be unconscious
of what they are doing."