While if I had confessed the truth to madame, she would have been so angry that I had been a party to tricking her that again I would have lost my place.

And so the seances went on." "Yes," said Hanaud.

"I understand that your position was very difficult.

We shall not, I think," and he turned to the Commissaire confidently for corroboration of his words, "be disposed to blame you." "Certainly not," said the Commissaire.

"After all, life is not so easy." "Thus, then, the seances began," said Hanaud, leaning forward with a keen interest.