The visitor rose and bowed.

She gravely returned his salute, and moved so as to place herself opposite to her son.
"May I ask what this lady is going to do ?" said the stranger.
"To be of any use to you," answered Doctor Lagarde, "I must be thrown into the magnetic trance.

The person who has the strongest influence over me is the person who will do it to-night." He turned to his mother.

"When you like," he said.
Bending over him, she took both the Doctor's hands, and looked steadily into his eyes.

No words passed between them; nothing more took place.