“Well, it may be that that is not objectionable. You see it isn’t less than is called for, it is more, and so,—”
But he saw that this argument was weak, and dropped it. The friends sat brooding over their perplexities some time in silence. Finally the earl’s face began to glow with an inspiration, and he said, impressively:
“Hawkins, this materialization is a grander and nobler science than we have dreamed of. We have little imagined what a solemn and stupendous thing we have done. The whole secret is perfectly clear to me, now, clear as day. Every man is made up of heredities, long-descended atoms and particles of his ancestors. This present materialization is incomplete. We have only brought it down to perhaps the beginning of this century.”
“What do you mean, Colonel!” cried Hawkins, filled with vague alarms by the old man’s awe-compelling words and manner.
“This. We’ve materialized this burglar’s ancestor!”
“Oh, don’t—don’t say that. It’s hideous.”
“But it’s true, Hawkins, I know it. Look at the facts. This apparition is distinctly English—note that. It uses good grammar—note that. It is an Artist—note that. It has the manners and carriage of a gentleman—note that. Where’s your cow-boy? Answer me that.”
“Rossmore, this is dreadful—it’s too dreadful to think of!”
“Never resurrected a rag of that burglar but the clothes, not a solitary rag of him but the clothes.”
“Colonel, do you really mean—”