An amused interest
touched him as he made his position more comfortable. Whoever
this woman was, she had an eye for stage management, she knew
how to marshal her effects. He found himself waiting with
some curiosity for the next injunction from behind the
curtain.
"The art of crystal-gazing," began the sweet, slow voice after
a pause, "is one of the oldest known arts." Loder sat forward.
The thought of Lady Bramfell mingled disconcertingly with some
other thought more distant and less easy to secure.
"To obtain the best results," went on the seer, "the subject
lays his uncovered hands outspread upon a smooth surface." It
was evident that the invisible priestess was reading from the
open book, for when the word "surface" was reached there was a
slight stir that indicated the changing of position; and when.
the voice came again it was in a different tone.
"Please lay your hands, palms downward, upon the table."
Loder smiled to himself in the darkness. He pictured Chilcote
with his nerves and his impatience going through this ordeal;
then in good-humored silence he leaned forward and obeyed the
command.
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