Morton's study was decided upon as the most suitable place in which to experiment, for the reason that it had but one exit, a sliding double door, which led to the library, and its windows all opened upon the street, six stories below. A burglar could not have entered with full license to do so.
Viola assisted Morton and Kate in clearing the big mahogany table, while Weissmann conferred with Clarke. To judge from the girl's gayety and eager interest the preparations were for a game of cards rather than for a test séance in which her love and honor were at stake. Mrs. Lambert was quite serene; Clarke alone seemed anxious and ill at ease.
Weissmann, at Morton's request, assumed general direction, and betrayed an astonishing familiarity with the requirements. Under his direction they grouped themselves about the table as for whist, Viola at the north end, with Clarke directly opposite, and Kate and Mrs. Lambert on either side and quite near him. The two inquisitors then took seats--Morton at the psychic's right, Weissmann at her left.
When the positions were all decided upon, Viola, with a note of disappointment in her voice, asked, "Aren't you going to tie me?"
"Oh no," replied Morton, "the conditions are yours to-night. You are our guest. Our tests will be made at some other time."
"Please make them to-night," she pleaded. "Please make them as hard as you can."
Weissmann's glasses glistened upon her with joyful acclaim. "Very good, your wishes shall be met. Let us see--we shall tie you. Have you something suitable?" he asked of his assistant.
Morton took from his desk a roll of white tape. "How will this do?"
"Just the thing," Weissmann replied; "but we must have no knots, no tying. Kate, get your needle, we must fasten Miss Lambert in such wise that no one can say, 'Oh, she untied the knots!'"
Under his supervision Kate looped the tape about Viola's wrists and sewed it fast to her close-fitting satin cuffs. She then encircled her ankles with the tape, and Morton drew the long ends under and far back of the chair and nailed them to the floor. Thereupon Weissmann said, "I wish to nail these wristbands to the chair-arm.--Do we sacrifice the cuffs?" he asked of Viola.
"Yes, yes--anything. Nail as hard as you please."
"And the chair?" pursued the old man, glancing at Morton.
"Oh, certainly," replied he. "Science goes before furniture in this house," and a couple of long brass tacks were driven firmly down through both tape and sleeve.
"You poor child!" exclaimed Kate. "If they hurt you, cry out, and I will free you."