454 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxviii 



we are going to have some manifestations." Immediately fol- 

 lowed a noise obviously produced by the tumbling over of the 

 accordion and some shifting of the position of the guitar. Next 

 came a twanging — very slight, but of course very audible — of 

 some of the string?, during which B was invisible. By and by 

 B and A became visible again, and Medium's voice likewise 

 showed that he had got back to his first position. But after he 

 had returned to this position there was a noise of the guitar 

 and other things on the table being stirred, and creeping noises 

 like something light moving over the table. But no more actual 

 twanging. 



To my great disgust G. D. now began to remark that he saw 

 two spots of light, which I suppose must have had the same 

 origin as my rays A and B, and, moreover, that something occa- 

 sionally occulted one or other of them. (Note: No, not till we 

 changed places, G. H. D.) I blessed him for spoihng my game, 

 but the effect was excellent. Nothing more happened. By and 

 by, after some talk about these points of light, the medium sug- 

 gested that this light was distracting, and that we had better 

 shut it out. The suggestion was very dexterously and indirectly 

 made, and was caught up more strongly (I think by Mr. Z). 

 Anyhow, we agreed to stop out all light. The circle was broken, 

 and the candle was lighted for this purpose. I then took occa- 

 sion to observe that the guitar was turned round into the -posi- 

 tion noted in the niargin, the end being near my left hand. On 

 examining it I found a longish end of one of the catgut strings 

 loose, and I found that by sweeping this end over the strings 

 I could make quite as good twangs as we heard. I could have 

 done this just as well with my mouth as with my hand — and I 

 could have pulled the guitar about by the end of the catgut in 

 my mouth and so have disturbed the other things — as they were 

 disturbed. 



Before the candle was lighted some discussion arose as to 

 why the spirits would not do any better (started by Mr. Y and 

 Mr. Z, I think), in which the medium joined. It appeared that 

 (in the opinion of the spirits as interpreted by the medium) we 

 were not quite rightly placed. When the discussion arose I 

 made a bet with myself that the result would be that either I 

 or G. D. would have to change places with somebody else. And 

 I won my wager (I have just paid it with the remarkably good 

 cigar I am now smoking). G. D. had to come round to my 

 side, Mr. Z went to the end, and Mr. Y took G. D.'s place. 

 " Good, Medium," said I to myself. " Now we shall see some- 



