Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/145

 shrine, and the will of our strange conductor removed the hypnotic spell.

“I am sorry, Mr. Wylde, to have to resort to such means,” he said, “but time is precious, and you know what the  Doctor is. I don’t even dare to allow you full freedom of mental action. I presume you perceive that your will is to a certain extent in subjection to influences over which you  have no control.”

“I do,” I answered simply, wondering at the supreme quietude which seemed to have seized my soul.

“You attribute it to the action of my will, doubtless?”

“I do.”

“You are mistaken. Let me impart a truth. I am exercising no control over you whatever, nor am I over your friend Maurice, as you believe.”

“If not you, who then?”

“Intelligences in whose existence you do not believe; the immortal souls of men once clothed with a material body  like your own.”

I found myself incapable of reply.

Evidently he expected none, for he immediately continued:

“Have no fear. Nothing shall be done to injure you. As for De Veber, he consented to this step of his own free will. I am quite powerless to prevent him from carrying it out; indeed I have even urged him to withdraw.”

“And I have refused, George, utterly refused;” spoke Maurice. “I would not back out under any circumstances; I am going to Mars.”

“You hear,” said the adept, “and this is what our chance meeting at Panompin has done for our friend. Pity the spiritual side of your nature is a blank page, Mr. Wylde;  were it otherwise I could tell you so much that would  interest you.”

“George!” burst out Maurice, with something like his old enthusiasm; “it would amaze you. I am wild with anxiety to see this experiment tried. I”

Again he suddenly paused and was dumb, and yet Mirrikh never looked at him, but I thought I saw old Padma make  a slight pass in his direction. Possibly this was imagination, for Padma could not have understood his words.”

“You see,” said the adept, “they will not let him speak.”

“Who do you mean by they?”