‘Eustasia!’ he repeated.

This time her lips moved, and a voice, that seemed shriller and clearer than her own, replied:—

‘Eustasia is not here. I am Sira.’

‘Who is Sira?’

‘A spirit of the third magnitude, from the region of the moon.’

A titter ran round the company, and Sir James Beaton essayed a feeble joke.

‘A lunar spirit—we shall not, I hope, be de lunatico inquirendo.’

‘Hush, sir!’ cried the Professor; then he continued, addressing the medium his sister, ‘Let me know if the conditions are perfect or imperfect?’

‘I cannot tell,’ was the reply.

‘Do you see anything, Sira?’