"Oh, I haven't got time to think of that just now!" I snapped. "Let's go to Miss Reardon's rooms."
We went. Jim said no more, except to mention that Captain Lorillard had already gone up.
Joyce may have imagined Jim to be the "great friend interested in Robert's welfare," but as for me, I wondered how he knew Robert by sight. Then I scolded myself: "Silly one! Hasn't he been watching--playing detective for you?"
It was poignant, remembering the last time when Robert, Joyce, and I had met in Miss Reardon's sitting room--the last day of their happiness. But we greeted each other quietly, like old friends, though Joyce's heart must have contracted at sight of the man's changed face. All the renewed youth and joyous manhood her love had given him had burned out of his eyes. He looked as he'd looked when I saw him that day at River Orchard Cottage.
Miss Reardon was slightly nervous in manner, and flushed like a girl when I introduced Sir James Courtenaye to her. But soon she recovered her prim little poise, and began making arrangements for the séance.
"Mr. Lorillard has already tested my _bona fides_ to his own satisfaction," she said. "He has examined my small suite, and knows that no person, no theatrical 'properties' are concealed about the place. If any of you would like to look around, however, before we start, I'm more than willing. Also if you'd care to bind my hands and feet, or sit in a circle and hold me fast, I've no objection."
As she made this offer, she glanced from one to the other of us. Pale, silent Joyce shook her head. Jim "left it to Princess di Miramare," and I decided that if Captain Lorillard was satisfied, we were.
"Very well," purred Miss Reardon. "In that case there's nothing more to wait for. Captain Lorillard, will you switch off the lights as usual?"
"Oh!" I broke in, surprised, "I thought you'd told us that the 'influence' was just as strong in light as darkness?"
"That is so," replied the medium, "except for materialization. For that, darkness is essential. There's some _quality_ in darkness that They need. They can't get the _strength_ to materialize in light conditions."
"How can we see anything if the room's pitch-black?" I persisted.
"Explain to your friends, Captain Lorillard, what takes place," bade Miss Reardon.