“But why do you say that would be worse than false mediumship?”
“Because it could be used for evil. I assure you, Malone, that the talk of black magic and of evil entities is not an invention of the enemy. Such things do happen and centre round the wicked medium. You can get down into a region which is akin to the popular idea of witchcraft. It is dishonest to deny it.”
“Like attracts like,” explained Mrs. Mailey, who was quite as capable an exponent as her husband. “You get what you deserve. If you sit with wicked people you get wicked visitors.”
“Then there is a dangerous side to it?”
“Do you know anything on earth which has not a dangerous side if it is mishandled and exaggerated? This dangerous side exists quite apart from orthodox Spiritualism, and our knowledge is the surest way to counteract it. I believe that the witchcraft of the Middle Ages was a very real thing, and that the best way to meet such practices is to cultivate the higher powers of the spirit. To leave the thing entirely alone is to abandon the field to the forces of evil.”
Lord Roxton interposed in an unexpected way.
“When I was in Paris last year,” said he, “there was a fellah called La Paix who dabbled in the black magic business. He held circles and the like. What I mean, there was no great harm in the thing, but it wasn’t what you would call very spiritual, either.”
“It’s a side that I as a journalist would like to see something of, if I am to report impartially upon this subject,” said Malone.
“Quite right!” Mailey agreed. “We want all the cards on the table.”
“Well, young fellah, if you give me a week of your time and come to Paris, I’ll introduce you to La Paix,” said Roxton.