“Other things no doubt combined to increase the influence in the present case.  She liked him, perhaps more than liked him once.  She was partially committed to his schemes; and she was easily mesmerised.  It would seem, besides, that she was naturally disposed to somnambulism.  This is a remarkable co-existence of distinct developments of the same peculiarity.  In this latter condition, even if in others she were able to resist him, she would be quite helpless; for all the thoughts that passed through her brain would owe their origin to his. —­ Imagine being forced to think another man’s thoughts!  That would be possession indeed!  And this is not far removed from the old stories about the demons entering into a man. —­ He would be ruler over the whole intellectual life that passed in her during the time; and which to her, as far as the ideas suggested belonged to the outward world, would appear an outer life, passing all round her, not in her.  She would, in fact, be a creature of his imagination for the time, as much as any character invented, and sent through varied circumstances, feelings, and actions, by the mind of the poet or novelist.  Look at the facts.  She warned you to beware of the count that night before you went into the haunted bed-chamber.  Even when she entered it, by your own account —­ "

“Entered it?  Then you do think it was Euphra who personated the ghost?”

“I am sure of it.  She was sleep-walking.”

“But so different —­ such a death-like look!”

“All that was easy enough to manage.  She refused to obey him at first.  He mesmerized her.  It very likely went farther than he expected; and he succeeded too well.  Experienced, no doubt, in disguises, he dressed her as like the dead Lady Euphrasia as he could, following her picture.  Perhaps she possessed such a disguise, and had used it before.  He thus protected her from suspicion, and himself from implication. —­ What was the colour of the hair in the picture?”

“Golden.”

“Hence the sparkle of gold-dust in her hair.  The count managed it all.  He willed that she should go, and she went.  Her disguise was certain safety, should she be seen.  You would suspect the ghost and no one else if she appeared to you, and you lost the ring after.  But even in this state she yielded against her better inclination, for she was weeping when you saw her.  But she could not help it.  While you lay on the couch in the haunted chamber, where he carried you, the awful death-ghost was busy in your room, was opening your desk, fingering your papers, and stealing your ring.  It is rather a frightful idea.”

“She did not take my ring, I am sure.  He followed her, and took it. —­ But she could not have come in at either door —­ "

“Could not?  Did she not go out at one of them?  Besides, I do not doubt that such a room as that had private communication with the open air as well.  I should much like to examine the place.”