"A hypnotic state."
"What state's that?"
"'Hypnotic' 's a new word--it's been brought in lately--it means 'mesmeric.'"
Mr. Pratt paused before replying. He looked Mr. Pownceby up and down.
"Look here, Mr. ---- I think you mentioned Pownceby; I don't know who you are, but you seem a friendly kind of man. Take my advice and get something off your chest. I see you've got it on."
Mr. Pownceby smiled, rather faintly. He did not lack presence of mind, as a rule, though just then the situation was as much as he could manage. He made a dash at it.
"I wish you would give me half a minute alone; but, since you will not, I must try to tell my story where we are. You see this book?" Mr. Pownceby held up the fatal treatise. "It contains instructions for the performance of mesmeric experiments. Mrs. Pratt insisted on my performing one of them on her. I succeeded in producing the mesmeric state, but I--I couldn't get her out of it."
There was a curious twinkle in Mr. Pratt's eyes.
"I don't catch on," he said.
"I say that I hypnotised her--that is, produced the mesmeric state, but that I--I couldn't get her out of it."