"Well," said the old gentleman, "is it not enough when I tell you that I--I who was a spiritualist for ten years--have never seen a more dangerous subject than Mr. Baxter? Is the risk worth it...? Lady Laura, do you quite understand what you are doing?"
He leaned forward a little; and again she felt anxiety, sickening and horrible, surge within her. Yet, on the other hand....
The door opened suddenly, and Mr. Vincent came in.
III
There was silence for a moment; then the old gentleman turned round, and in an instant was on his feet, quiet, but with an air of bristling about his thrust-out chin and his tense attitude.
Mr. Vincent paused, looking from one to the other.
"I beg your pardon, Lady Laura," he said courteously. "Your man told me to wait here; I think he did not know you had come in."
"Well--er--this gentleman..." began Lady Laura. "Why, do you know Mr. Vincent?" she asked suddenly, startled by the expression in the old gentleman's face.
"I used to know Mr. Vincent," he said shortly.
"You have the advantage of me," smiled the medium, coming forward to the fire.
"My name is Cathcart, sir."
The other started, almost imperceptibly.
"Ah! yes," he said quietly. "We did meet a few times, I remember."
Lady Laura was conscious of distinct relief at the interruption: it seemed to her a providential escape from a troublesome decision.
"I think there is nothing more to be said, Mr. Cathcart.... No, don't go, Mr. Vincent. We had finished our talk."
"Lady Laura," said the old gentleman with a rather determined air, "I beg of you to give me ten minutes more private conversation."
She hesitated, clearly foreseeing trouble either way. Then she decided.
"There is no necessity today," she said. "If you care to make an appointment for one day next week, Mr. Cathcart--"
"I am to understand that you refuse me a few minutes now?"
"There is no necessity that I can see--"
"Then I must say what I have to say before Mr. Vincent--"
"One moment, sir," put in the medium, with that sudden slight air of imperiousness that Lady Laura knew very well by now. "If Lady Laura consents to hear you, I must take it on myself to see that nothing offensive is said." He glanced as if for leave towards the woman.
She made an effort.