"I didn't know that," he said,--and I could not doubt his sincerity. "It must have been a long time ago."
"No longer ago than last summer. He kept his own name from the public. But I infer that you did know something of his practices in private?"
"Yes," he said, hesitatingly.
"Did you ever allow him to hypnotize you?" I asked abruptly.
He was obviously discomposed, but he tried to cover his embarrassment by assuming an air of careless frankness. "Oh, yes. I believe I was a good subject. Mr. Garney was trying to develop my mental powers by hypnotism. He told me some remarkable accounts of idiots who had been mentally stimulated by hypnotic suggestion to do creditable work in their classes."
"Was that the direction in which his suggestions were made?" I asked, as casually as possible. I must try to get from him, without disturbing his sensibilities, as clear an account as he could give me, or would give me, of his peculiar relations with Garney.
"Oh, yes. It was just to help me with my Latin. And it did help," he added, defensively. I could see that he was not entirely at ease over the admission.
"How often did you put yourself under his influence?"
"Oh, I don't remember. Half a dozen times, perhaps."
"Did you remember afterwards what he had said or done to you while you were hypnotized?"