"Gentlemen," he exclaimed, throwing the letter upon the table, "the arrival of this missive affords me an opportunity of proving another phenomenon belonging to clairvoyance. The patient shall read this letter through the envelope."
"But if its contents be private?" said a guest.
"Then I am surrounded by gentlemen of honour, who will not publish those contents," returned the professor with a smile.
A murmur of approbation welcomed this happy compliment of the Frenchman.
The mesmerist held the letter at a short distance from Ellen's countenance, and said, "What is this?"
"A letter," she replied. "It is written in French."
"Read it," cried the mesmerist.
"The writing is obscure, and the lines seem to cross each other."
"That is because the letter is in an envelope and folded," said the Professor. "But try and read it."
Ellen then distinctly repeated the contents of the letter, of which the following is a translation:—