The fingers spread slightly, falling apart of their own weight, and the pencil rolled away.
"Do you still hear ?" I shouted, holding the fingers and waiting for the single pressure which would signify "Yes." There was no response.

The hand was dead.
"I noticed the lips slightly move," Maud said.
I repeated the question.

The lips moved.

She placed the tips of her fingers on them.

Again I repeated the question.