She looked at him curiously.
“But—” she began.
“Oh, I will go further,” he said. “Have you never heard of—of insanity in connection with all this? We will call it insanity, if you wish.”
For a moment her heart stood still. The word had a sinister sound, in view of an incident she had once witnessed; but it seemed to her that some meaning behind, unknown to her, was still more sinister. Why had he said that it might be “called insanity” only? …
“Yes. … I—I have once seen a case,” she stammered.
“Well,” said the old gentleman, “is it not enough when I tell you that I—I who was a Spiritualist for ten years—have never seen a more dangerous subject than Mr. Baxter? Is the risk worth it? … Lady Laura, do you quite understand what you are doing?”
He leaned forward a little; and again she felt anxiety, sickening and horrible, surge within her. Yet, on the other hand. …
The door opened suddenly, and Mr. Vincent came in.