"It is nothing, madam, I assure you," said the Third Vice-President. "See!"
He leaned over and passed his hand directly through the body in the chair; in at the breast and out at the back.
"Oh!" cried Aunt Amanda; and her friends all gasped; but the Committee only nodded their heads in token of their interest.
"You see it is nothing," said the Third Vice-President. "We will now look at the paper which our departed friend has left."
He picked up the paper from the table where Speak had left it, adjusted his spectacles, turned his back to the candles so as to get a good light, and read the paper through to himself. He then glanced at the company and read aloud:
"Shiraz the Rug-Merchant.
"Outside the Gate of Wanderers, six hundred Paces to the Right, along the Wall.
"Thee shall know his Shop by certain Numbers, to wit: 3101310.
"If he Hide himself, say these words: Shagli Jamshid Shahriman.