"There are so few of us who think of such things," she answered, "so few who study, ponder, and reflect. I am fond of study, and I love philosophy; and from the reading of many books I have learned much. From the book which I have here I have learned most; and from its teachings I have gradually come to the belief, which you tell me is the true one, that we are spirits and you men."
"It is 'The Philosophy of Relative Existences,' by Rupert Vance."
"Ye gods!" I exclaimed, springing upon the balcony, "that is my book, and I am Rupert Vance." I stepped toward the volume to seize it, but she raised her hand.
"You cannot touch it," she said. "It is the ghost of a book. And did you write it?"
"Write it? No," I said; "I am writing it. It is not yet finished."
"But here it is," she said, turning over the last pages. "As a spirit book it is finished. It is very successful; it is held in high estimation by intelligent thinkers; it is a standard work."
I stood trembling with emotion. "High estimation!" I said. "A standard work!"
"Oh yes," she replied, with animation; "and it well deserves its great success, especially in its conclusion. I have read it twice."
"But let me see these concluding pages," I exclaimed. "Let me look upon what I am to write."
She smiled, and shook her head, and closed the book. "I would like to do that," she said, "but if you are really a man you must not know what you are going to do."
"Oh, tell me, tell me," cried Bentley from below, "do you know a book called 'Stellar Studies,' by Arthur Bentley? It is a book of poems."
The figure gazed at him. "No," it said, presently, "I never heard of it."
I stood trembling. Had the youthful figure before me been flesh and blood, had the book been a real one, I would have torn it from her.
"O wise and lovely being!" I exclaimed, falling on my knees before her, "be also benign and generous. Let me but see the last page of my book. If I have been of benefit to your world; more than all, if I have been of benefit to you, let me see, I implore you--let me see how it is that I have done it."
She rose with the book in her hand. "You have only to wait until you have done it," she said, "and then you will know all that you could see here." I started to my feet and stood alone upon the balcony.