If it should turn out that it be some strange exhalation from some of those Egyptian curios, that might account for it; only, we are then face to face with the fact that Mr.Trelawny, who was most of all in the room--who, in fact, lived more than half his life in it--was affected worst of all.
What kind of influence could it be which would account for all these different and contradictory effects?
No! the more I think of this form of the dilemma, the more I am bewildered! Why, even if it were that the attack, the physical attack, on Mr.Trelawny had been made by some one residing in the house and not within the sphere of suspicion, the oddness of the stupefyings would still remain a mystery.

It is not easy to put anyone into a catalepsy.

Indeed, so far as is known yet in science, there is no way to achieve such an object at will.

The crux of the whole matter is Miss Trelawny, who seems to be subject to none of the influences, or possibly of the variants of the same influence at work.

Through all she goes unscathed, except for that one slight semi-faint.