There was a momentary pause. Then an answer came in the voice of Eustasia, but deeper and less clear.
‘I am here.’
‘Who are you?’
‘Laura, a spirit of the winged planet Jupiter. I speak through the bodily mouth of our dear sister, who is far away, walking with my brethren by the lake of golden fire.’
‘Are you alone?’
‘N! others are present—I see them passing to and fro. One is bright and beautiful. Her face is glorious, but she wears a raiment like a shroud.’
‘What does that betoken?’
‘It betokens that she has only just died.’
A shiver ran through Bradley’s frame. Could the dead indeed be present? and if so, what dead? His thoughts flew back once more to that miserable death-chamber by the sea. The next moment something like a cold hand touched him, and alow voice murmured in his ear:
‘Ambrose! are you listening? It is I!’