From the cabinet the medium
projects the spirit into the circle. An attack upon the spirit,
is an attack upon the medium. There are three or four
well-authenticated cases where the disembodied spirit was cut
off from the cabinet, and the medium died."
He drew the velvet curtains across the cabinet, and shut Vera
from view. "Are you ready, Mr. Hallowell?" he asked. Mr.
Hallowell, his eyes staring, his lips parted, nodded his head.
The music grew louder. Vance switched off the lights.
For some minutes, except for the creaking of the pedals of the
organ and the low throb of the music, there was no sound. Then,
from his position at the open door, the voice of Vance commanded
sternly: "No whispering, please. The medium is susceptible to
the least sound." There was another longer pause, until in
hushed expectant tones Vance spoke again. "The air is very
heavily charged with electricity tonight," he said, "you, Mrs.
Marsh, should feel that?"
"I do, Professor," murmured the medium, "I do. We shall have
some wonderful results!"
Vance agreed with her solemnly. "I feel influences all about
me," he murmured.
There came suddenly from the cabinet three sharp raps. These
were instantly answered by other quick rappings upon the library
table. "They are beginning!" chanted the voice of Vance. The
music of the organ ceased. It was at once followed by the notes
of a guitar that seemed to float in space, the strings
vibrating, not as though touched by human hands, but in fitful,
meaningless chords like those of an Aeolian harp.
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