And though I struggle against the belief, and though I very seldom admit it, even to myself, I know quite well, Bill, that I'm never really alone--never free of Them unless--unless, Bill, I'm in a holy place, when they don't dare to come." There was a tone of fear, of awful dread, in her voice.

In spite of himself he felt impressed.
"But why should they come specially round _you_ ?" he asked uneasily.
"You know as well as I do that I'm a strong medium.

But I'll tell you, Bill, something which I've never told you before." "Yes," he said, with a strange sinking of the heart.

"What's that, Bubbles ?" "You know that Persian magician, or Wise Man, whom certain people in London went cracked over last spring ?" "The man you _would_ go and see ?" "Yes, of course I mean that man.

Well, when he saw me he made his interpreter tell me that he had a special message for me--" Bubbles was leaning forward now, her hands resting on Bill's shoulders.
"I wonder if I ought to tell you all he said," she whispered.