"Exactly. You see flame-colour."
He removed his fingers and Julian opened his eyes.
"Yes," he said. "But that cry. I most distinctly heard it."
"Imitate it."
"That would be impossible. It was too strange. Are the ears affected by darkness?"
"The sense of hearing is intimately affected by suspense. If you do not listen attentively you may fail to hear a sound that is. If you listen too attentively you may succeed in hearing a sound that is not. Now, shut your eyes again."
Julian obeyed.
"I am going to clap my hands presently," said the doctor. "Tell me as soon as you have heard me do so."
"Yes."
Doctor Levillier made no movement for some time. Then he softly leant forward, extended his arms in the air, and made the motion of clapping his hands close to Julian's face. In reality he did not touch one hand with the other, yet Julian cried out: