It took the shape, I may say, of a smallish man, grotesquely pot-bellied, with very thin legs and arms. The eyes were disproportionately large and quite circular, with an expression that was at once both impish and pathetic. The ears were immense, and set at right angles to the head; the rest of the features indefinite. He was dressed rather in the fashion of a medieval page.
(The professor was heard to murmur, "The typical goblin," at this point, but made no further interruption.)
He sat with his feet crossed on the rail at the foot of the bed and appeared able to balance himself without difficulty. He had been sitting there for perhaps a couple of minutes, while I made various entries in my note-book before I tried the experiment of addressing him.
"Have you a message?" I asked. "If you cannot answer directly, knock once for 'No,' and three times for 'Yes,' and afterwards we can try the alphabet."
To my great surprise, however, he was able to use the direct voice. His tone was a trifle wheezy and thin at first, but afterwards gained power and clearness.
"I can hear you fairly well," he said. "Now do try to keep calm. It isn't often that one gets such a chance as this."
I will now read my notes.
Myself. "I am perfectly calm. Go on."
Spirit. "Will you try to answer my questions?"
The Researcher looked up from his note-book with a frown of impatience after reading these two entries, and said: