All sat in hushed expectancy until Esther, rising from her chair, glided like a phantom to the middle of the floor, and humming a soft, slow waltz, she floated about the room, avoiding the chairs and other articles in her way without losing step or breaking time in the least.
It was wonderful. Mark would have been staggered in his scepticism had he not seen the same performance once enacted by a subject in the hands of a noted mesmerist.
“This is only further proof of the scheming falseness of that villain Russell,� he reflected. “It shall not be my fault if he is not banished from my house from this day forth. If he would only attribute his power to the right source I could endure him, but spirits—bah!�
For ten minutes the girl waltzed without interruption, then, as if led by unseen hands, she passed from the room and threw herself, apparently exhausted, upon a small lounge in the adjoining apartment.
“She has been dancing with a stronger partner than herself and got tired out,� said Russell coarsely. “We’ll let her rest a while.�
When the company was again seated in the circle Mark slipped out and removed the handkerchief from the eyes of the prostrate girl. Her face was chalky in its pallor, and there was scarcely a perceptible evidence of respiration.
“My God! How like death this is,� muttered Mark as he bent over her. “If she were my daughter she should never come into the presence of that man again. Then he strove to waken her.
“Esther, Esther,� he said, shaking her gently by the arm. “Awake!� But not a muscle of the rigid face relaxed. He lifted her hands and slightly punctured the smooth flesh with a pin. She did not wince nor show that she felt it. Again and again he sought to arouse her. Mark was beginning to fear that the sleep was one which would find its awakening in another world, when Russell entered the room.
“You can see the result of your spirit-waltz, Professor,� he said.
Russell placed his hand upon the girl’s brow.