IX
THE TRAGEDY AT THE "LOUP NOIR"
The Boy at the corner of the table flicked the ash of his cigar into the fire.
"Spiritualism is all rot!" he declared.
"I don't know," the Host reflected thoughtfully. "One hears queer stories sometimes."
"Which reminds me——" started the Bore.
But before he could proceed any further the little French Judge ruthlessly cut him short.
"Bah!" Contempt and geniality were mingled in his tone. "Who are we, poor ignorant worms, that we should dare to say 'is' or 'is not'? Your Shakespeare, he was right! 'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy!'"
The faces of the four Englishmen instantly assumed that peculiarly stolid expression always called forth by the mention of Shakespeare.
"But Spiritualism——" started the Host.
Again the little French Judge broke in: