“You will merely bring ridicule upon yourself,” he said, “if you assert that the man you wish to protect is Amos Kilbright.  We can prove by records, still to be seen in Bixbury, that said person died in seventeen eighty-five.  On the other hand, if you choose to assert that he is, or was, anybody else, how are you going to prove it?  All that you can say is that the person you refer to came from, you knew not where, and has gone, you know not where.  If you declare that at one time he was a materialized spirit, you know very well how such a statement as that would be received in a court of law.  It will be much wiser to let it be supposed that the person who has lately been seen about this town has run off to Canada, than to make any sort of legal inquiry into the matter.  If said person were really a man we could have nothing to do with his disappearance, while if he were a materialized spirit the law would have nothing to do with him.”

I arose and paced the floor.  There was entirely too much force in this man’s arguments, but, although I could not immediately answer him, his cool determination to persevere in his iniquitous designs so angered me that I declared that he should be punished if I had to do it myself.

“Then you admit,” he said, with a smile, “that the law cannot do it.  The situation,” he continued, “is very plain to us.  Although the law can take no cognizance of our action, the case will be very different with all believers in spiritualism, and those who are interested in us.  The news that we have done this thing will spread through the spiritualistic circles of the world.”

“Has your German arrived?” I asked, abruptly.

“Not yet,” answered Corbridge, “but we expect him in a few days.  He will come directly to this town, because we wish to give him an opportunity of observing the subject in his present form before beginning the dematerializing process.”

“What refinement of cruelty!” I exclaimed.

“Oh, of course, the doctor will not make himself known,” said Corbridge.  “He will merely wish to take a good look at the subject, and see for himself how perfect his materialization has been.  Then he will know just what work is before him.”

And, so saying, Mr. Corbridge went away, leaving me too angry to speak, if, indeed, I could have thought of anything which it would have been worth my while to say.

When Mrs. Colesworthy heard what Corbridge had said, she turned white.  “They must be married instantly!” she exclaimed.  “I knew that was the only way.”

It was all very well to talk of an immediate marriage, but it was not so easy to bring it about.  It was yet a week before the day fixed for the wedding, and the happy lovers were busy with their preparations, never dreaming of the danger which hung over them.  What reason could we give for hastening the marriage rites?  At one time we thought it might be wise to explain to them fully the state of the case, but from this course we were deterred for fear of the terrible effect that the news might have on Lilian.  Should she hear of the design of Dr. Hildstein, she would never again have a moment’s peace, married or unmarried.  Once I advised that the two be dissuaded from marrying, at least for a year.  In that time we could see if these people really had any power over Mr. Kilbright.