"Let's go, then!"
Rajah Brahman was an imposing figure as he strode into the seance room. Faithful Imam Singh preceded him and stood waiting for the appearance of the master. Arms-folded, standing at the left of the throne, Imam Singh brought an awed silence to the seated group.
When Rajah Brahman appeared, a slight buzz of admiration arose, but it was quickly silenced by an impressive glare from the medium's dark eyes.
Seating himself upon the throne, Rajah Brahman assumed the passivity of the golden Buddha. After a few moments, his head turned slowly, and his eyes met those of different persons in the group. They singled out the woman from Chicago, and noted her enraptured gaze.
They rested calmly upon the face of Arthur Dykeman, the bereaved father. Finally, they stared directly at the face of Benjamin Castelle.
A faint smile appeared upon the skeptic's lips as he met the seer's challenging stare. Rajah Brahman was unmoved. He saw the smile fade slowly away.
"I speak," declared the rajah, in a voice that bore a foreign tone, "to those who are willing to see the light. To all others I say that your presence here is purposeless.
"I see among you some of the faithful who have learned my first lessons in Hindu occultism. I may say that all mediumship has originated in the Orient— among the Yogi of the Himalayas and the Mahatmas of Tibet.
"It is from such masters that I have learned my hidden knowledge. This must be understood by all who have not yet been versed in the true development of psychic mediumship.
"I see one" — the rajah's eyes assumed a glassy stare — "who has suffered a grief more recent than all others. One woman among you has come here tonight because she seeks advice of a person on whom she has relied for years."