causes the light in those cases, but you would never persuade the vulgar
of this.

"'Nay, there are even churchmen and prelates who would view it as magic.
Therefore, my friend, seeing that, as you say, the powder is not likely to
be of any use to man, I should say that it were best that you destroy it,
for if whispers of it got abroad you might well be accused of dealing in
magic. All knowledge of things beyond them is magic to the ignorant. Roger
Bacon was treated as a magician, and I doubt not that this will ever be
the case with all those who are more learned than their fellow-men.
Therefore my advice to you is, burn the stuff and say naught about it.'

"I did not take his advice, Edgar, for it seemed to me that it might well
be used to awe any unruly mob that might come hither at night to attack
me. I have made an experiment that, though I believe not in the
supernatural, would have frightened me had I seen it without knowing
anything of its nature. You know that old skull that was dug up out of the
garden last month, I have hung the lower jaw on wires so that it can be
moved, and have to-day painted it, and now I will blow out the light
again, and then take it from the cupboard."

A moment later the room was in darkness, and then an exclamation of
surprise and almost terror rose from Edgar. In front of him there was a
gibbering skull, the lower jaw wagging up and down, as if engaging in
noiseless laughter, It was much more brilliant than the stone head had
been, and a lambent flame played round it.

"What think ye of that, Edgar?"

"It is ghastly, sir, horrible!"