“I need not tell you, M. Auguste, that I have not invited you here to discuss questions of psychology. I am a politician, and it matters nothing to me whether I am dealing with a ghost or a man, provided I can make myself understood.”
M. Auguste bowed.
“For instance, it is quite clear that the interesting revelations we have had to-night would not have been made without your good will. It is to be presumed, therefore, that if I can convince you that it is better to turn the Emperor’s mind in another direction, you will refuse to make yourself the medium of further communications of that precise character.”
M. Auguste gave me an intelligent glance.
“I am as you have just said, a medium,” he replied with significant emphasis. “As such, I need not tell you, I have no personal interest in the communications which are made through me.”
I nodded, and took out my pocket-book, from which I extracted a hundred ruble-note (about $75).
“I promised to show you something interesting,” I remarked, as I laid it on the table.
M. Auguste turned his head, and his lip curled slightly.
“I am afraid my sight is not very good,” he said negligently. “Is not that object rather small?”