The seer's head turned and stared directly toward Maude Garwood. The widow pressed her nephew's arm, as she sighed in rapture. The stern face of the rajah softened.
"All cannot cross immediately the barrier that lies between the earthly plane and the astral," he declared.
"Your husband, madame" — a gasp of astonishment came from Maude Garwood — "has not yet reached the higher plane from which I can hope to conjure his spirit. But perhaps I may gain a message of hope." He clapped his hands three times, and Imam Singh bowed before the throne. The rajah spoke a few words in Hindustani.
The servant walked to the side of the room, and returned with a tall, gilded table. He placed it before the throne. Opposite, he set a large chair. He turned toward Mrs. Garwood, and made a salaam. The woman understood. She was to seat herself in the chair.
She arose with a short, happy glance toward her nephew, and sat opposite Rajah Brahman.
"It is in the dark that spirits manifest themselves," stated the seer. "But as conditions are not yet such that I can produce a complete manifestation of your departed husband, I believe that we may accomplish our wish without the aid of darkness."
He clapped his hands thrice, and Imam Singh approached with a large slate. Rajah Brahman asked that it be passed about the circle. Meanwhile, he spoke softly to the woman who sat before him, murmuring a jargon of English and a foreign tongue.
Imam Singh arrived with the slate, and placed it on the table. He added a piece of chalk. Ignoring the chalk, Rajah Brahman showed the slate. He requested Maude Garwood to put the slate under the table, holding it in her own hands, keeping its upper side against the under surface of the table. The woman complied with the request.
"This semblance of darkness," declared the rajah, "may bring us the message that we require. Let us listen."
An impressive silence followed.