It's a real pity, when you come to think of it." "The more so as they discredit sciences which certainly contain verities omitted in their jumble," said Durtal.
"Then another lamentable thing," said Des Hermies, "is that in addition to the dupes and simpletons, these little sects harbour some frightful charlatans and windbags." "Peladan, among others.

Who does not know that shoddy mage, commercialized to his fingertips ?" cried Durtal.
"Oh, yes, that fellow--" "Briefly, messieurs," resumed Gevingey, "all these people are incapable of obtaining in practise any effect whatever.

The only man in this century who, without being either a saint or a diabolist, has penetrated the mysteries, is William Crookes." And as Durtal, who appeared to doubt the apparitions sworn to by this Englishman, declared that no theory could explain them, Gevingey perorated, "Permit me, messieurs.

We have the choice between two diverse, and I venture to say, very clear-cut doctrines.

Either the apparition is formed by the fluid disengaged by the medium in trance to combine with the fluid of the persons present; or else there are in the air immaterial beings, elementals as they are called, which manifest themselves under very nearly determinable conditions; or else, and this is the theory of pure spiritism, the phenomena are produced by souls evoked from the dead." "I know it," Durtal said, "and that horrifies me.