“And … and do you ever stammer?” went on the man.
Still Laurie was silent. It was beyond belief or imagination.
“Now if those things were characteristic—”
“Stop, sir,” cried the boy; and then, “But those too might be unconscious imitation.”
“They might,” said the other. “But then we had the advantage of watching you. And there were other things.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“There was the loud continuous rapping, at the beginning and the end. You were awakened twice by these.”
Laurie remained perfectly motionless without a word. He was still striving to marshal this flood of mad ideas. It was incredible, amazing.
Then he stood up.
“I must go away,” he said. “I—I don’t know what to think.”
“You had better stay a little longer and rest,” said the medium kindly.
The boy shook his head.
“I must go at once,” he said. “I cannot trust myself.”
He went out without a word, followed by the medium. The two ladies sat eyeing one another.
“It has been astonishing … astonishing,” sighed Mrs. Stapleton. “What a find!”
There was no more said. Lady Laura sat as one in trance herself.