登陆注册
5255000000031

第31章 CHAPTER VI EXPERIENCES(5)

Moreover, here was one of the gates to that knowledge which he desired so earnestly, and how could he find the strength to shut it in his own face?

Of course the end of the matter was that by the following Sunday, his toothache had departed, and the carriage did not return empty to the Villa Ogilvy.

He found his hostess looking white and ethereal, an appearance that she had acquired increasingly ever since their first meeting. Her delight at seeing him was obvious, as was that of the others. For this he soon discovered the reason. It appeared that the sitting on the previous Sunday, when he was overcome by toothache, had been an almost total failure. Professor Petersen had tried to fill his place as medium, with the result that when he fell under the influence, the only spirit that broke through his lips was one which discoursed interminably about lager beer and liqueurs of some celestial brew, which, as Madame Riennes, a lady not given to mince her words, told him to his face afterwards, was because he drank too much. Hence the joy of these enthusiasts at the re-appearance of Godfrey.

With considerable reluctance that youth consented to play his usual r?le, and to be put into a charmed sleep by Madame. This time he saw no Eleanor, and knew nothing of what happened until he awoke to be greeted by the horrific spectacle of Miss Ogilvy lying back in her chair bathed in blood. General confusion reigned in the midst of which Madame Riennes alone was calm.

"It is h?morrhage from the lungs," she said, "which is common among /poitrinaires/. Brother Petersen, do what you can, and you, Brother Smith, fly for Mademoiselle's doctor, and if he is not at home, bring another."

Later Godfrey heard what had chanced. It seemed that the wraith, or emanation, or the sprite, good or evil, or whatever it may have been, which called itself Eleanor, materialized in a very ugly temper. It complained that it had not been allowed to appear upon the previous Sunday and had been kept away from its brother, i.e. Godfrey. Then it proceeded to threaten all the circle, except Godfrey, who was the real culprit, with divers misfortunes, especially directing its wrath against Miss Ogilvy.

"You will die soon," it said, "and in the spirit world I will pay you back." Thrice it repeated this: "You will die," to which Miss Ogilvy answered with calm dignity:

"I am not afraid to die, nor am I at all afraid of you, Eleanor, who, as I now see, are not good but evil."

While she spoke a torrent of blood burst from her lips, Eleanor disappeared, and almost immediately Godfrey awoke.

In due course the doctor came and announced that the h?morrhage had ceased, and that the patient was in no imminent danger. As to the future, he could say nothing, except that having been Miss Ogilvy's medical attendant for some years, he had expected something of this sort to happen, and known that her life could not be very long.

Then Godfrey went home very terrified and chastened, blaming himself also for this dreadful event, although in truth no one could have been more innocent. He had grown very fond of Miss Ogilvy, and shuddered to think that she must soon leave the world to seek a dim Unknown, where there were bad spirits as well as good.

He shuddered, too, at the thought of this Eleanor, who made use of him to appear in human form, and on his knees prayed God to protect him from her. This indeed happened, if she had any real existence and was not some mere creation of the brain of Madame Riennes, made visible by the working of laws whereof we have no knowledge. Never again, during all his life, did he actually see any more of Eleanor, and the probability is that he never will, either here or elsewhere.

Three days later Godfrey received a letter from the doctor, saying that Miss Ogilvy wished to see him, and that he recommended him not to delay his visit. Having obtained the permission of the Pasteur, he went in at once by the diligence, and on arrival at the villa, where evidently he was expected, was shown up to a bedroom which commanded a beautiful view of the lake and Mount Pilatus. Here a nurse met him and told him that he must not stay long; a quarter of an hour at the outside. He asked how Mademoiselle was, whereon she answered with an expressive shrug:

"Soon she will be further from the earth than the top of that mountain."

Then she took him to another smaller room, and there upon the bed, looking whiter than the sheets, lay his friend. She smiled very sweetly when she caught sight of him.

"Dear Godfrey," she said, "it is kind of you to come. I wanted to see you very much, for three reasons. First, I wish to beg your pardon for having drawn you into this spiritualism without your knowing that I was doing so. I have told you what my motive was, and therefore I will not repeat it, as my strength is small. Secondly, I wish you to promise me that you will never go to another séance, since now I am quite sure that it is dangerous for the young. To me spiritualism has brought much good and joy, but with others it may be different, especially as among spirits, as on the earth, there are evil beings.

Do you promise?"

"Yes, yes," answered Godfrey, "only I am afraid of Madame Riennes."

"You must stand up against her if she troubles you, and seek the help of religion; if necessary consult your old Pasteur, for he is a good man. There is no danger in the world that cannot be escaped if only one is bold enough, or so I think, though, alas! myself I have lacked courage," she added with a gentle sigh.

同类推荐
  • 般泥洹经卷上

    般泥洹经卷上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 送钦差大臣侯官林公序

    送钦差大臣侯官林公序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秦观词选

    秦观词选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 相宗八要

    相宗八要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 咒魅经

    咒魅经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 二次元逍遥记

    二次元逍遥记

    有一天我梦见了创世神,我许了三个愿望。我想拥有一拳超人的无敌能力。完整的无限手套和,免费的无敌系统。(作者小学生纯属写着玩)
  • 药香农妇:军师相公追妻忙

    药香农妇:军师相公追妻忙

    苏婉婉觉得,自己一定是被贼老天给坑了。为救孕妇,却被撞身亡!灵魂一朝穿越到古代妇人苏婉娘的身上,还附赠病恹恹小包子一枚!正苦于身无居所,囊中羞涩,好在老天附赠一个百草空间,还有极品灵泉。治病,赚钱,种田,养娃,一个也不落!且看她如何改变现状,享一世长安!只不过,这突然找上门来的军师大人,居然要进门,貌似还想抢娃儿。苏婉婉看看萌宝的一张神似的脸,仰天长叹:关门,放灵宠,藏宝宝~军师大人温和一笑:“娘子,让为夫进去可好?”某女......萌宝拉拉他娘衣摆一脸期待:“娘亲是给宝宝找了个爹爹吗?”某女扶额:“不是!”不曾想,门外某人不按套路出牌,翻墙入院耍无赖:“娘子,为夫有权有钱,还望娘子笑纳!”
  • 隋唐嘉话

    隋唐嘉话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元素战猫

    元素战猫

    林远重生了,开始了他新的一生。仰天长啸:喵↗喵↘喵↗喵↘喵→喵?喵?喵?
  • 女高诡事之幽灵之舞

    女高诡事之幽灵之舞

    九月十六,处女血祭祀一个古老的邪恶法术,竟然在一座学院中出现。失踪,鬼魂,幽灵层层迷踪围绕着这一切……简宁,身处一宗宗诡异的事件之中,却凭借着自己的高智商,循着小线索,解开一个个大谜团。
  • 封妖记语

    封妖记语

    世间万物非人者,统称为妖。而妖怪三千万,册中有名者占一半!世间妖怪,皆有温度。而这就是一场封妖师与妖怪之间有温度的故事!这是日常文,没有什么打斗的。作者尝试着平淡的温馨,不喜勿喷。
  • 余罪4:我的刑侦笔记

    余罪4:我的刑侦笔记

    命太硬!余罪遭遇从警来最大危机!生死一线!本书为您揭开的是一张令人触目惊心的当下社会犯罪网络。从混迹人群中的扒手,到躲在深山老林里的悍匪,从横行街头的流氓,到逡巡在海岸线边缘的毒枭;他们似乎离我们很远,似乎又很近,看似悄无声息,却又如影随形;作者所描写的,正是这个光怪陆离而又真实存在的地下世界。警校学员余罪,在通过一次意外的选拔之后,被丢进了一间住满凶神恶煞的罪犯的牢房,他迅速发现,要在这个凶险万状的环境中活下来,自己必须比毒贩更奸诈,比窃贼更狡猾,比匪徒更残忍。他不仅要用罪犯的思维去理解犯罪,还要用罪犯的手段去对抗犯罪,更要和罪犯一样突破种种底线……
  • 戒

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秦始皇的千年绝宠

    秦始皇的千年绝宠

    紧闭了双眼,无法去面对嬴政,想到这,无数后宫美人的脸不断地在云若曦的脑海里旋转着登场。罢了、罢了,自己爱他,真的爱他!“寡人只要你,若你不为后,寡人便将这后位永世空着”嬴政说的很决绝。
  • 我的青春像首歌

    我的青春像首歌

    追忆逝去的青春,那些人,那些花,希望能唤起你的回忆,引起你的共鸣。