Everybody but Mr. Bloomer, that is; Zacheus, the philosopher who had studied his profession aboard a lightship, commented on everything.  Sitting next Mr. Bangs, he put his lips close to the ear of the last-named gentleman and breathed caustic sarcasm into it.  Galusha found it distracting and, at times, annoying, for Mr. Bloomer’s mustache was bristly.

“Little Cherry Blossom talks’s if she had a cold,” whispered Zach.  “Better take a little cherry rum, hadn’t she, eh?”

The control was loudly paging a person named Noah.

“Sperit heree wantee talkee with Noah,” she cried.  “Wheree isee Noah?”

“’Board the Ark, most likely,” whispered Mr. Bloomer.  “Be hollerin’ for Jonah next, won’t she?  Cal’late so.  Yus, yus.”

Message after message came and was recognized and acknowledged by the devout.  The group from the Phipps’ house had so far been slighted, so, too, had Captain Jethro Hallett.  There was a slight hubbub in the circle, owing to the fact that two of its members simultaneously recognized and laid claim to the same spirit, each declaring him to be or have been an entirely different person when living.  During this little controversy Zacheus whispered in his neighbor’s ear.

“Say, Mr. Bangs,” he whispered, “this is gettin’ kind of tiresome, ain’t it?  Must be worse for Nelse, though, eh?”

Galusha did not catch his meaning.  “For—­for whom?” he asked.  “I beg your pardon.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.  Why, I mean Nelse Howard must be gettin’ more tired than we be, shut up in that front hall the way he is.”

“Shut up—­ Why, really, I—­ Mr. Howard left the house long ago, didn’t he?  By the front door, you know.”

Zach chuckled.  “That front door is locked and the key’s been lost for more’n a fortn’t.  Cal’late Lulie forgot that when she told him to skip out that way.  He can’t get out.  He’s in that front entry now and he’ll have to stay there till all hands have gone and the cap’n gone to bed.  That’s a note, ain’t it! . . .  Sshh!  They’re goin’ to begin again.”

The identity of the spiritual visitor having been tentatively established, the “communications” continued.  Galusha paid little heed to them.  The thought of young Howard a prisoner in the front hall was uncomfortable of itself, but still more uncomfortable was the mental picture of what might happen should his presence there be discovered by Captain Hallett.  The old light keeper was bigoted and absurdly prejudiced against his daughter’s lover at all times.  An encounter between them would always be most unpleasant.  But this evening, when the captain was in his most fanatical mood, for him to find Nelson Howard hiding in his own house—­well, the prospect was almost alarming.

Galusha, much troubled in mind, wondered if Lulie had remembered the locked door and the lost key.  Did she realize her fiance’s plight?  If so, she must be undergoing tortures at that moment.  Nelson, of course, could take care of himself and was in no danger of physical injury; the danger was in the effect of the discovery upon Captain Jethro.  He was not well, he was in a highly nervous and excited state.  Galusha began to fidget in his chair.  More than ever he wished the seance would end.