I rose from the organ, closed it gently, and, moved by a sudden impulse, held out both my hands to Heliobas.  He took them and held them in a friendly clasp, watching me intently as I spoke.

“I believe in you,” I said firmly; “and I know thoroughly well that I was not dreaming; I certainly heard strange music, and entrancing voices.  But in acknowledging your powers over something unseen, I must explain to you the incredulity I at first felt, which I believe annoyed you.  I was made sceptical on one occasion, by attending a so-called spiritual seance, where they tried to convince me of the truth of table-turning—­”

Heliobas laughed softly, still holding my hands.

“Your reason will at once tell you that disembodied spirits never become so undignified as to upset furniture or rap on tables.  Neither do they write letters in pen and ink and put them under doors.  Spiritual beings are purely spiritual; they cannot touch anything human, much less deal in such vulgar display as the throwing about of chairs, and the opening of locked sideboards.  You were very rightly sceptical in these matters.  But in what I have endeavoured to prove to you, you have no doubts, have you?”

“None in the world,” I said.  “I only ask you to go on teaching me the wonders that seem so familiar to you.  Let me know all I may; and soon!” I spoke with trembling eagerness.

“You have been only eight days in the house, my child,” said Heliobas, loosening my hands, and signing me to come out of the chapel with him; “and I do not consider you sufficiently strong as yet for the experiment you wish me to try upon you.  Even now you are agitated.  Wait one week more, and then you shall be—­”

“What?” I asked impatiently.

“Lifted up,” he replied.  “Lifted up above this little speck called earth.  But now, no more of this.  Go to Zara; keep your mind well employed; study, read, and pray—­pray much and often in few and simple words, and with as utterly unselfish a heart as you can prepare.  Think that you are going to some high festival, and attire your soul in readiness.  I do not say to you ‘Have faith;’ I would not compel your belief in anything against your own will.  You wish to be convinced of a future existence; you seek proofs; you shall have them.  In the meantime avoid all conversation with me on the subject.  You can confide your desires to Zara if you like; her experience may be of use to you.  You had best join her now.  Au revoir!” and with a kind parting gesture, he left me.

I watched his stately figure disappear in the shadow of the passage leading to his own study, and then I hastened to Zara’s room.  The musical episode in the chapel had certainly startled me, and the words of Heliobas were full of mysterious meaning; but, strange to say, I was in no way rendered anxious or alarmed by the prospect I had before me of being “lifted up,” as my physician had expressed it.  I thought of Raffaello Cellini and his history, and I determined within myself that no cowardly hesitation or fear should prevent me from making the attempt to see what he professed to have seen.  I found Zara reading.  She looked up as I entered, and greeted me with her usual bright smile.