The spirit of the seeress, it will be observed, broke off its revelations at the most interesting point, with the skill of a practised writer of serials.
But the Czar, fairly carried away by excitement, insisted on knowing more.
“Ask the spirit if there will be any foreign complications,” he said.
I had already remarked that our invisible companion showed a good deal of deference to the wishes of Nicholas II., perhaps in his character of Head of the Orthodox Church.
After a little hesitation it rapped out:
“The English are angry, but they are restrained by the fear of Germany. The German Michael casts his shield in front of Russia, and the islanders are cowed. I cannot see all that follows. But in the end I see that the Yellow Peril is averted by the joint action of Russia and Germany.”
This answer confirmed to the full my suspicions regarding the source of M. Auguste’s inspiration. I believed firmly that there was a spirit present, but it was not the spirit of the deceased theosophist, rather of a monarch who is very much alive.
The medium now professed to feel exhausted, and Madame Blavatsky was permitted to retire.
I rose to accompany M. Auguste as soon as he made a move to retire.
“If you will let me drive you as far as my hotel,” I said to him, “I think I can show you something which will repay you for coming with me.”