They sought spells that would do evil, and that evil was not accomplished.  Now, I ask you, if the Firm worked their spells through the instrumentality of evil spirits—­for it is assuredly only evil spirits that are associated with Sorcery—­would not the spells they sold naturally have brought about the sinister results for which they were required?  Undoubtedly they would!  And they failed to produce the desired effect, simply because their efficacy depended, not on spirit agency, but on human will power; which power one could only too plainly see the society ladies—­who had witnessed for the prosecution—­did not possess.

“It may be asked, why the defendants, if they do not accomplish their spells through black magic, style themselves ’The Sorcery Company’—­and so mislead the public?  Obviously they do so purely for advertisement.  ‘The Sorcery Company’ is an attractive title, a ‘catchy’ title, and for this reason, which is surely a legitimate one, since it is strictly in accordance with the prevailing custom of advertisement—­the firm of Hamar, Curtis and Kelson adopted it.  They did not expect—­they were not so extraordinarily foolish as to expect—­any one would take them literally.  They thought—­as you and I think—­that sorcery cannot be taken seriously—­that it is confined to fairy tales—­and that, as a fairy tale, it is potent only in the nursery.”

This was the gist of counsel’s speech for the defence.  A number of witnesses then gave evidence for the defendants; and when the prosecuting counsel rose, it was only too evident that he was pleading for a lost cause.  The Court with ill-concealed derision barely accorded him a hearing.

Two hours later the Meteor, always the first in the field when sensations crop up, headed the first column of their front page with—­

    COLLAPSE OF THE SORCERY CASE
    CRUSHING SPEECH BY GERALD KIRBY, K.C. 
    ACQUITTAL OF THE DEFENDANTS

“The Judge”—­so the Meteor reported—­“expressed himself in absolute agreement with the defending counsel.  ‘The action,’ he said, ’ought never to have been brought—­it was sublimely ridiculous to accuse any one of being in league with forces in the existence of which no sane person could possibly believe.’”

Shiel was in despair.  All chance of saving Gladys seemed to be fast disappearing.  He telephoned to her, and was answered by Miss Templeton.

“Gladys,” she said, “had gone out with Hamar, who had motored down to the cottage the moment the trial was over and the verdict known.”

“I wish to God we had won the case,” Shiel observed.

“So do I,” Miss Templeton replied, “and so did Gladys—­she regards her position now as absolutely hopeless!”

“Tell her not to lose heart,” Shiel answered hurriedly.  “If I can’t find any other means, I’ll—­” but Miss Templeton rang off, and he spoke to the wind.

Full of wrath against Lilian Rosenberg, he went round to see her, and met her, just as she was entering her house.