“Do not hint at such a thing.  You are beyond suspicion.”

What ground Mr. Arnold had for making such an assertion, was no better known to himself than to any one else present.  Von Funkelstein, without another word, put the fingers of one hand lightly on the plate beside Mr. Arnold’s.  The plate instantly began to move upon the paper.  The motion was a succession of small jerks at first; but soon it tilted up a little, and moved upon a changing point of support.  Now it careered rapidly in wavy lines, sweeping back towards the other side, as often as it approached the extremity of the sheet, the men keeping their fingers in contact with it, but not appearing to influence its motion.  Gradually the motion ceased.  Von Funkelstein withdrew his hand, and requested that the other candle should be lighted.  The paper was taken up and examined.  Nothing could be discovered upon it, but a labyrinth of wavy and sweepy lines.  Funkelstein pored over it for some minutes, and then confessed his inability to make a single letter out of it, still less words and sentences, as he had expected.

“But,” said he, “we are at least so far successful:  it moves.  Let us try again.  Who will try next?”

“I will,” said Hugh, who had refrained at first, partly from dislike to the whole affair, partly because he shrank from putting himself forward.

A new sheet of paper was fixed.  The candle was extinguished.  Hugh put his fingers on the plate.  In a second or two, it began to move.

“A medium!” murmured Funkelstein.  He then spoke aloud some words unintelligible to the rest.

Whether from the peculiarity of his position and the consequent excitement of his imagination, or from some other cause, Hugh grew quite cold, and began to tremble.  The plate, which had been careering violently for a few moments, now went more slowly, making regular short motions and returns, at right angles to its chief direction, as if letters were being formed by the pencil.  Hugh shuddered, thinking he recognised the letters as they grew.  The writing ceased.  The candles were brought.  Yes; there it was! —­ not plain, but easily decipherable —­ David Elginbrod.  Hugh felt sick.

Euphra, looking on beside him, whispered: 

“What an odd name!  Who can it mean?”

He made no reply

Neither of the other ladies saw it; for Mrs. Elton had discovered, the moment the second candle was lighted, that Lady Emily was either asleep or in a faint.  She was soon all but satisfied that she was asleep.

Hugh’s opinion, gathered from what followed, was, that the Bohemian had not been so intent on the operations with the plate, as he had appeared to be; and that he had been employing part of his energy in mesmerising Lady Emily.  Mrs. Elton, remembering that she had had quite a long walk that morning, was not much alarmed.  Unwilling to make a disturbance, she rang the bell very quietly, and, going to the door, asked the servant who answered it, to send her maid with some eau-de-cologne.  Meantime, the gentlemen had been too much absorbed to take any notice of her proceedings, and, after removing the one and extinguishing the other candle, had reverted to the plate. —­ Hugh was still the operator.