“By means of a material switch?”
Natalie looked a little uncertain. Varying expressions passed over her face as she thought it out. Then she said, “Don’t spirits ever use material means?”
“Not to my individual knowledge,” returned Alan Ford gravely. “I fear, Miss Vernon, your belief in the spiritual influences at work in this affair is about to be rudely shattered. Now, did you hear any other sound,—a click or thud,—after the light went out?”
“No. You see, Joyce,—Mrs. Stannard jumped right up and ran across the room and turned on the light.”
“Turned it on? It had been really turned off, then?”
“Oh, yes. And she turned it on. Then she opened the door and Blake was in the hall, where he belonged. He had seen no one and had heard nothing.”
“I must have a chat with Blake. And Mrs. Faulkner, she knew nothing of it all?”
“Not till Mrs. Stannard told her. She ran at once to Mrs. Faulkner’s room——”
“Where is that room?”
“At the other end of the house, on the third floor. And there she found Mrs. Faulkner writing letters. And Mrs. Stannard told her and they came down stairs together. Well, and after Mrs. Stannard left the room, of course, I looked around, and there was the case of jewels on the table.”