"That was the only wise procedure that you used," declared Rajah Brahman. "It was, indeed, fortunate that your statement was not doubted."
"It pretty near floored me," replied Jacques, "when the whole crowd stuck with me. I knew that some of them would tell the same story that I did; but I thought that a few would say something about the fellow who got away. I couldn't spill that story myself.
"It was lucky that one of them had enough sense to figure the real dope. A fellow named Castelle told a detective that he thought there was another bird. Now they are looking for him, and I guess they figured he did it."
"You have arranged for your believers to join my circle of enlightenment?" questioned Rajah Brahman.
"That's all been fixed," replied Jacques. "They are all good, and I have all the dope that Harvey gave me.
"There's one good customer that was coming to my next seance — a man named Telford — that Harvey dug up for me. I have the inside dope here with me" — he drew an envelope from his pocket — "and I want to get rid of it."
He extended the envelope toward Rajah Brahman, but the Hindu master held up his hand reprovingly.
"Rajah Brahman needs no such information," he declared solemnly. "You may give it to my servant as you leave, since you fear that its possession might work to your disadvantage. That is sufficient. Go, and be cautious in your deeds."
Professor Jacques slunk from the room. Rajah Brahman laughed. After all, such fakers as Professor Jacques were superstitious. Despite the fact that they knew their work was trickery, they were ready to believe that some one more intelligent than themselves might actually possess a true psychic power. Rajah Brahman had ended with the first of his special visitors. The appearance of Imam Singh told him that another had arrived. At the rajah's command, the servant left the room. Anita Marie entered. This woman, who was ordinarily so domineering, was now abject and subdued. Even more than Professor Jacques, she was impressed by the importance of Rajah Brahman. She did not even attempt to speak until she had received his nod.
"The woman is acomin' here," Anita Marie began. "She visited me to-night, and she wants to see you very much."