"I assure you, mon cher docteur, I am as anxious as anyone to please the guests, but it is impossible for me to succeed unless all the members of the circle are in complete harmony with each other. If you turn to the Acts of the Apostles you will read that when the disciples were met together in an upper room to witness certain spiritualistic phenomena, that the narrator was careful to mention that they were all of one accord. This was the essential condition for the success of all the wonderful phenomena which followed. Spiritualism is governed by precisely the same laws now as obtained in those days. Do you remember the passage I have just quoted?"
"Perfectly," answered Riche, who in reality knew as much about the Acts of the Apostles as he did about Chinese. "I am quite as disappointed as Villebois that our séance has to be postponed."
At this moment a servant entered the room and handed a note on a silver tray to Villebois.
"Excuse me a moment, professor, while I read this."
"I am pleased to say," interrupted Delapine, as Villebois took the letter off the tray, "that I have changed my mind. The obstruction is now removed, and our séance will be conducted in perfect harmony."
"What has made you change your mind so quickly?" said Villebois.
"The note you have in your hand, of course."
"But I have not opened it yet."
"That is immaterial. Let me read it to you before you open it," said Delapine smiling:—
"Mon cher Docteur,
"Pray give my best compliments to Madame, and apologise for me, as I just recollect I have a very important meeting to attend to in town, which had quite escaped my memory. If I can possibly return later in the evening, it will afford me infinite pleasure to join your circle, but pray do not wait for me.
"Accept, my dear doctor, the expressions of my most sincere friendship.
"Toujours à vous,
"PIERRE."