“Why did you change your mind?”
“Oh, because of Madame Orienta. Haven’t you heard about her? She cleared up the mystery as far as Joyce,—Mrs. Stannard and I are concerned.”
“Yes, I’ve heard all about her. You believe in her supernatural powers?”
“Oh, yes. Only I don’t use that word. I call them psychic powers.”
“But it was supernatural to read the sealed messages as she did?”
“Well, I suppose it was. I suppose clairvoyance is supernatural, but we psychics prefer other terms. You know I’m a psychic.”
“Ah, is that so? And you can read sealed messages in the dark?”
“No, indeed, I can’t. I wish I could. But perhaps I shall be able to some day. I can—Mr. Ford, you believe me, don’t you?”
Natalie looked at him, and a slight flush came to her pale cheek as she saw his slightly quizzical expression.
“Miss Vernon, I believe all you’ve said, so far. I want to continue my confidence in your statements, so please be very careful not to exaggerate or over-colour the least mite. Now, just to what extent do you know you’re a psychic? Not imagine or hope or think, but know.”