«Now!» he bellowed in his stentorian voice.
There was a shout, a scream, a crash. «I've got him!» roared someone. «Turn up the lights!» yelled another. «Be careful! You may kill the medium!» cried a third. The circle was broken. Challenger rushed to the switch and put on all the lights. The place was so flooded with radiance that it was some seconds before the bewildered and half-blinded spectators could see the details.
When they had recovered their sight and their balance, the spectacle was a deplorable one for the majority of the company. Tom Linden, looking white, dazed, and ill, was seated upon the ground. Over him stood the huge young Scotsman who had borne him to earth; while Mrs. Linden, kneeling beside her husband, was glaring up at his assailant. There was a silence as the company surveyed the scene. It was broken by Professor Challenger.
«Well, gentlemen, I presume that there is no more to be said. Your medium has been exposed as he deserved to be. You can see now the nature of your ghosts. I must thank Mr Nicholl, who, I may remark, is the famous football player of that name, for the prompt way in which he has carried out his instructions.»
«I collared him low,» said the tall youth. «He was easy.»
«You did it very effectively. You have done public service by helping to expose a heartless cheat. I need not say that a prosecution will follow.»
But Mailey now intervened and with such authority that Challenger was forced to listen.
«Your mistake is not unnatural, sir, though the course which you adopted in your ignorance is one which might well have been fatal to the medium.»
«My ignorance indeed! If you speak like that I warn you that I will look upon you not as dupes, but as accomplices. «
«One moment, Professor Challenger. I would ask you one direct question, and I ask for an equally direct reply. Was not the figure which we all saw before this painful episode a white figure?»
«Yes, it was.»
«You see now that the medium is entirely dressed in black. Where is the white garment?»
«It is immaterial to me where it is. No doubt his wife and himself are prepared for all eventualities. They have their own means of secreting the sheet, or whatever ii may have been. These details can be explained in the police court.»
«Examine now. Search the room for anything white.»
«I know nothing of the room. I can only use my common sense. The man is exposed masquerading as a spirit. Into what corner or crevice he has thrust his disguise is a matter of small importance.»
«On the contrary, it is a vital matter. What you have seen has not been an imposture, but has been a very real phenomenon.»
Challenger laughed.
«Yes, sir, a very real phenomenon. You have seen a transfiguration which is the half-way state of materialization. You will kindly realize that spirit guides, who conduct such affairs, care nothing for your doubts and suspicions. They set themselves to get certain results, and if they are prevented by the infirmities of the circle from getting them one way they get them in another, without consulting your prejudice or convenience. In this case being unable, owing to the evil conditions which you have yourself created, to build up an ectoplasmic form they wrapped the unconscious medium in an ectoplasmic covering, and sent him forth from the cabinet. He is as innocent of imposture as you are.»
«I swear to God,» said Linden, «that from the time I entered the cabinet until I found myself upon the floor I knew nothing.» He had staggered to his feet and was shaking all over in his agitation, so that he could not hold the glass of water which his wife had brought him.
Challenger shrugged his shoulders.
«Your excuses,» he said, «only open up fresh abysses of credulity. My own duty is obvious, and it will be done to the uttermost. Whatever you have to say will, no doubt, receive such consideration as it deserves from the magistrate.» Then Professor Challenger turned to go as one who has triumphantly accomplished that for which he came. «Come, Enid!» said he.
And now occurred a development so sudden, so unexpected, so dramatic, that no one present will ever cease to have it in vivid memory.
No answer was returned to Challenger's call. Everyone else had risen to their feet. Only Enid remained in her chair. She sat with her head on one shoulder, her eyes closed, her hair partly loosened – a model for a sculptor.
«She is asleep,» said Challenger. «Wake up, Enid. I am going.»
There was no response from the girl. Mailey was bending over her.
«Hush! Don't disturb her! She is in trance.»
Challenger rushed forward. «What have you done? Your infernal hankey-pankey has frightened her. She has fainted.»
Mailey had raised her eyelid.
«No, no, her eyes are turned up. She is in trance. Your daughter, sir, is a powerful medium.»
«A medium! You are raving. Wake up girl,! wake up!»
«For God's sake leave her! You may regret it all your life if you don't. It is not safe to break abruptly into the mediumistic trance.»
Challenger stood in bewilderment. For once his presence of mind had deserted him. Was it possible that his child stood on the edge of some mysterious precipice and that he might push her over?
«What shall I do?» he asked helplessly.
«Have no fear. All will be well. Sit down! Sit down, all of you. Ah! she is about to speak.»
The girl had stirred. She had sat straight in her chair. Her lips trembled. One hand was outstretched:
«For him!» she cried, pointing to Challenger. «He must not hurt my Medi. It is a message. For him.»
There was breathless silence among the persons who had gathered round the girl.
«Who speaks?» asked Mailey.
«Victor speaks. Victor. He shall not hurt my Medi. I have a message. For him!»
«Yes, yes. What is the message?»
«His wife is here.»
«Yes!»
«She says that she has been once before. That she came through this girl. It was after she was cremated. She knock and he hear her knocking, but not understand.»
«Does this mean anything to you, Professor Challenger?»
His great eyebrows were bunched over his suspicious, questioning eyes, and he glared like a beast at bay from one to the other of the faces round him. There was a trick – a vile trick. They had suborned his own daughter. It was damnable. He would expose them, every one. No, he had no questions to ask. He could see through it all. She had been won over. He could not have believed it of her, and yet it must be so. She was doing it for Malone's sake. A woman would do anything for a man she loved. Yes, it was damnable. Far from being softened he was more vindictive than ever. His furious face, his broken words, expressed his convictions.
Again the girl's arm shot out, pointing in front of her.
«Another message!»
«To whom?»
«To him. The man who wanted to hurt my Medi. He must not hurt my Medi. A man here – two men – wish to give him a message.»
«Yes, Victor, let us have it.»
«First man's name is . . .» The girl's head slanted and her ear was upturned, as if listening. « Yes, yes, I have it! It is Al-Al-Aldridge.»
«Does that mean anything to you?»
Challenger staggered. A look of absolute wonder had come upon his face.
«What is the second man?» he asked.
«Ware. Yes that is it. Ware.»
Challenger sat down suddenly. He passed his hand over his brow. He was deadly pale. His face was clammy with sweat.
«Do you know them?»
«I knew two men of those names.»