Then he had an apparatus which measured association time.  The essential part of this instrument was the operation of a very delicate stop-watch, and this duty was given to me.  It was nothing more nor less than measuring the time that elapsed between his questions to her and her answers, while he recorded the actual questions and answers and noted the results which I worked out.  Neither of us was unfamiliar with the process, for when we were in college these instruments were just coming into use in America.  Kennedy had never let his particular branch of science narrow him, but had made a practice of keeping abreast of all the important discoveries and methods in other fields.  Besides, I had read articles about the chronoscope, the plethysmograph, the sphygmograph, and others of the new psychological instruments.  Craig carried it off, however, as if he did that sort of thing as an every-day employment.

“Now, Miss Bond,” he said, and his voice was so reassuring and persuasive that I could see she was not made even a shade more nervous by our simple preparations, “the game—­it is just like a children’s parlour game—­is just this:  I will say a word—­take ‘dog,’ for instance.  You are to answer back immediately the first word that comes into your mind suggested by it—­say ‘cat.’  I will say ‘chain,’ for example, and probably you will answer ‘collar,’ and so on.  Do you catch my meaning?  It may seem ridiculous, no doubt, but before we are through I feel sure you’ll see how valuable such a test is, particularly in a simple case of nervousness such as yours.”

I don’t think she found any sinister interpretation in his words, but I did, and if ever I wanted to protest it was then, but my voice seemed to stick in my throat.

He was beginning.  It was clearly up to me to give in and not interfere.  As closely as I was able I kept my eyes riveted on the watch and other apparatus, while my ears and heart followed with mingled emotions the low, musical voice of the girl.

I will not give all the test, for there was much of it, particularly at the start, that was in reality valueless, since it was merely leading up to the “surprise tests.”  From the colourless questions Kennedy suddenly changed.  It was done in an instant, when Miss Bond had been completely disarmed and put off her guard.

“Night,” said Kennedy.  “Day,” came back the reply from Miss Bond.

“Automobile.”  “Horse.”

“Bay.”  “Beach.”

“Road.”  “Forest.”

“Gate.”  “Fence.”

“Path.”  “Shrubs.”

“Porch.”  “House.”

Did I detect or imagine a faint hesitation?

“Window.”  “Curtain.”

Yes, it was plain that time.  But the words followed one another in quick succession.  There was no rest.  She had no chance to collect herself.  I noted the marked difference in the reaction time and, in my sympathy, damned this cold; scientific third degree.