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I saw clearly. I own to having been tremendously impressed by his talk, but I was not quite convinced; the thing appeared to be clean out of nature and reason. You see, I had no such stimulus to belief as a scientist would have had who had followed his proofs . . . Still, it seemed harmless. Probably it would end in nothing—the ritual prepared, and the mystics left gaping at each other . . . No. That could scarcely happen, I decided; the mystagogue was too impressive.
    The professor had recovered himself, and was watching me under drooped eyelids. All the eagerness had gone out of his face, but that face had the brooding power and the ageless wisdom of the Sphinx. If he were allowed to make the experiment something must happen.
    Lady Flambard had promised to abide by my decision . . . There could be no risk, I told myself. A little carefulness in diet, which would do everybody good. The drug? I would have to watch that. The professor seemed to read my thoughts, for he broke in:
    â€œYou are worrying about the drug? It is of small consequence. If you insist, it can be omitted.”
    I asked how he proposed to prepare the subjects of his experiment. Quite simply, he replied. A newspaper—
The Times
, for example— would be made to play a large part in our thoughts . . . I observed that it already played a large part in the thoughts of educated Englishmen, and he smiled—the first time I had seen him smile. There was an air of satisfaction about him, as if he knew what my answer would be.
    â€œI see no objection to what you propose,” I said at last. “I warn you that I am still a bit of a skeptic. But I am willing, if you can persuade the others.”
    He smiled again. “With the others there will be no difficulty. Our gracious hostess is already an enthusiast. Before luncheon I will speak to Mr. Tavanger and Mr. Mayot—and to Mr. Ottery when he returns. I shall not speak to them as I have spoken to you.”
    â€œWhy?” I asked.
    â€œBecause they are longing for such a revelation as I propose, whereas you care not at all. But I would beg of you to say a word on my behalf to Sir Robert Goodeve. His co-operation I especially seek.”
    He raised with difficulty his huge frame from the wicker chair, blinking his eyes in the hot sun, and leaning on a sundial as if he were giddy. I offered my arm, which he took, and together we went under the striped awning, which shaded one part of the terrace, into the coolness of the great hall.
    You know the kind of banality with which, out of shyness, one often winds up a difficult conversation. I was moved to observe, as I left him, that in four days I hoped to be introduced to a new world. He made no answer. “To enter, waking, into the world of sleep,” I added fatuously.
    Then he said a thing which rather solemnized me.
    â€œNot only the world of sleep,” he said. “It is the world to which we penetrate after death.”
    As I watched his great back slowly mounting the staircase, I had a sudden feeling that into the peace of Flambard something fateful and tremendous had broken.

Chapter 4
    I do not know what Professor Moe said to Tavanger and Mayot. I knew both men, but not intimately, for they were a little too much of the unabashed careerist for my taste, and I wondered how, in spite of his confidence, he was going to interest their most practical minds.
    After luncheon I wanted to be alone, so I took my rod and went down to the Arm, beyond the stretch where it ran among water-meadows.
    It was a still, bright afternoon, with a slight haze to temper the glare of the sun. The place was delicious, full of the scents of mint and meadowsweet, yellow flag irises glowing by the water’s edge, and the first dog roses beginning to star the hedges. There was not much of a rise, but I caught a few trout under the size limit, and stalked and lost a big fellow in the mill pool. But I got no good of the summer peace, and my mind