As, although the results we obtained were far beyond any
expectations, the purely physical phenomena were relatively
insignificant, it is not necessary to go further into the detail
of the room. Robinson has done that, anyhow, for the Society of
Psychical Research, a proceeding to which I was opposed, as will
be understood by the close of the narrative.

Further to satisfy Mrs. Dane, we examined the walls and floor-boards
carefully, and Herbert, armed with a candle, went down to the cellar
and investigated from below, returning to announce in a loud voice
which made us all jump that it seemed all clear enough down there.
After that we sat and waited, and I daresay the bareness and
darkness of the room put us into excellent receptive condition. I
know that I myself, probably owing to an astigmatism, once or twice
felt that I saw wavering shadows in corners, and I felt again some
of the strangeness I had felt during the day. We spoke in whispers,
and Alice Robinson recited the history of a haunted house where she
had visited in England. But Herbert was still cynical. He said,
I remember:

"Here we are, six intelligent persons of above the average grade,
and in a few minutes our hair will be rising and our pulses
hammering while a Choctaw Indian control, in atrocious English,
will tell us she is happy and we are happy and so everybody's
happy. Hanky panky!"

"You may be as skeptical as you please, if you will only be fair,
Herbert," Mrs. Dane said.

"And by that you mean--"