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“A seance had been arranged for at which Dr. Maxwell, Professor Richet and I were to be present. Much had been expected from this seance, for there were many signs of ample force. The raps were certainly excellent, and, with a great show of dignity, asked: Permettez-vous à un ami de (mentioning my name) de venir? Permission being given, it was announced that “Georges R.” wished to speak with me.
“I know of no Georges R.; the medium, however, was aware of the fact that R. is one of my family names.
“The raps (‘Georges R.’) continued: Votre père a eu un accident de voiture; foie très contusionné; soaisr chute; (soir sa chute?).
“No accident of any kind has happened to my father either at the time of receiving the above message, or since.
“The rapping ceased abruptly, when this last message was given, and no further phenomena occurred at this particular seance.
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“At a short seance at which Dr. Maxwell and I were present, the medium said he could see Chappe walking about the room with a lady on his arm; the lady was dressed in mourning. Raps accompanied the medium’s words and, the name of the lady in mourning being asked for, the word ‘Marguerite’ was dictated. Asked why she was in mourning, the raps replied that it was for identity’s sake, because ‘Marguerite’ was in mourning when she died. (Signe identité—en deuil quand elle est morte.) Asked for the name of the person for whom Marguerite was in mourning, when she died, the raps replied: ‘Katey.’
“Now, a favourite aunt of mine died a few years ago, whose name was Marguerite. My mother died a few weeks before my aunt; consequently my aunt was in mourning for my mother, when she died. My mother’s name was Kate, but my aunt always called her Katey.
“I can affirm never having spoken of these details either to Dr. Maxwell or to the medium.