Five minutes after, Dr. Sharp came into the room.  “I did not know I could come until half-an-hour ago,” he said as he entered, and then stared as he saw how matters stood.

“Will you tell me,” said Miss Forrest, “what my aunt is doing just now?”

She mentioned no name, and I do not know how the man sitting in the chair could know anything about her.

“She is jest gwine to bed,” he said; “she’s a bit ov a cold in ’er chest, and housekeeper is gwine to take some warmin’ stuff to her.”

“I’ll know if this is true to-morrow,” said Miss Forrest, and then relapsed into silence.

Meanwhile question after question was asked and answered, while Voltaire and Kaffar stood side by side, each with a terrible glitter in his eyes.

Under some secret influence Simon Slowden was led to the piano, and there executed some of the latest and most difficult pieces of music, and, without hesitation, told things that were at least marvellous.  Then, when excitement was at the highest, he woke up, and coolly rubbed his eyes.

No one uttered a word, we were all too much amazed.  At last Voltaire, with a sidelong glance at me, asked whether we were convinced, and one by one the members of the party expressed their wonder and astonishment.  I, however, was silent.  Some power of obstinacy seemed to possess me.  I would not tamely admit his victory, after I had openly defeated him before.  Still I did not speak a word.

“Is Mr. Blake convinced?” said Miss Staggles, leering towards me.

“Of what?” I asked.

“Of Mr. Voltaire’s power.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“Come,” said Kaffar, “Mr. Blake is still a sceptic.  I think it fair that he should consent to test this for himself.”

“Certainly not,” I replied.

“But I think it our right,” said Voltaire.  “You have expressed your want of faith in our power; now, if you have the courage of a man with an opinion, test the matter.  Sit here as Simon did, and see whether you are right.”

I thought I heard a voice saying “Don’t!” close to my ear, and I hesitated.

At this there was a titter among the young ladies.

“Evidently our Thomas is afraid,” said Miss Staggles.

There was an ugly look in her eyes as she said this, but the titter increased into a kind of derisive laugh.

I know it was an evidence of my cowardice, but I could not withstand their laughter.  I forgot the warning voice behind me; I refused to take notice of Mrs. Temple’s warning glance; I rose up, went to the chair in the middle of the room, and defiantly said, “There! do all you can with me.”