THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.

The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.

The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.Mme.Dauvray waited impatiently.
Celia stood apparently unconcerned, apparently lost to all that was going on.

Her eyes saw no one.

Adele looked up at Celia, and laughed maliciously.
"Mademoiselle, I see, is in the very mood to produce the most wonderful phenomena.