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her into a fit so that you might attempt to prove your assertions.’
    â€˜Attempt!’ repeated Malderini. ‘Again, Sir, you are ambiguous. Do you suggest that I have failed to do so?’
    â€˜You can hardly claim to have brought about the seemingly impossible by the sole use of your will-power.’
    â€˜How else do you suggest that the Princess Sirisha was able to speak in tongues unknown to her, and reply to questions normally beyond the range of her knowledge, except as a puppet animated by my will?’
    â€˜There are other ways in which ...’
    â€˜Papa!’ Georgina interrupted anxiously. ‘I pray you carry this discussion no further.’
    â€˜Oh, come!’ countered Beckford. ‘Surely your Ladyship will not insist on our terminating so promising a debate.’
    â€˜I was about to say,’ went on the Colonel, ‘that it would ill become me to challenge the integrity of my daughter’s guest; but, as a scientific man, my conscience permits me to go no further than adopt a course at times resorted to by the Scottish Courts. That is to declare that I must continue to regard the existence of occult power as—“Not proven”.’
    Malderini hunched his bulky shoulders and glared at the Colonel. ‘You have said either too much or too little. Sir. You must either withdraw your implication or frankly accuse me ofhaving used ventriloquism to deceive you.’
    For Georgina’s sake, Roger stepped quickly into the breach. In the honeyed accents of sweet reason, he said: ‘You are mistaken, Signor. Colonel Thursby implied only what, I think, several of us feel. Astounding as your demonstration has been, its nature was not of the kind we expected. There was, I recall, some talk of moving mountains or molehills, solely by the use of will-power, and you must agree that we have not been witnesses to a substitution of will-power for physical force.’
    â€˜Well said,’ murmured Droopy Ned, and Beckford chimed in, ‘I, too, am of that opinion.’
    â€˜Ladies and Gentlemen’; the Venetian made a slight bow to the company in general. He seemed to have suddenly become quite amiable again. ‘I must admit there is something to be said for the point Mr. Brook has made. Very well. I am prepared to give you proof that will-power can be substituted for physical force. You will no doubt have heard of levitation, as practised by the mystics of India. If, while standing at some distance from the Princess Sirisha. I can cause her to leave the ground and cross a room without visible means of support, I take it you will acknowledge my claim to occult power?’
    There was a nodding of heads and excited murmur of assent; then he went on: ‘To perform such an operation is no light undertaking. I must spend several hours preparing myself, and to fast before it is essential. If it is to take place tonight the Princess Sirisha and I must deny ourselves the pleasure of dining with you. Moreover, I feel that I am entitled to some compensation for the doubts which some of you have cast on my powers.’ Turning to Colonel Thursby, he added: ‘What will you wager me that I prove unable to carry out this undertaking?’
    â€˜Providing we can agree conditions,’ the Colonel replied, ‘anything in reason. Would a hundred guineas suit you?’
    Malderini shrugged, ‘I had been told, Sir, that you were a rich man, and I have ample funds. The sum you suggest is a paltry one.’
    Taking a pinch of snuff. Colonel Thursby flicked the spilt grains from his cravat with a lace handkerchief, and said casually, ‘Make it five hundred if you wish.’
    â€˜I’d be happy to share the stake,’ said Beckford eagerly.
    â€˜And I,’ nodded Droopy Ned, raising his quizzing glass.
    â€˜I will take each of you for that sum in addition to my fivehundred with Colonel Thursby,’ Malderini replied to them with a confident