Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/168

 East. It is simply a hallucination produced by the reflex action of a strong will upon a weaker one. All these preparations are mere clap-trap. I saw the same thing at Benares some years ago.”

“You mean white magic, do you not? Black magic is turned against a man, not for his benefit.”

“Bah! It’s all equally rubbish, black or white—but let us watch him. We may discover some part of the trick.”

Watch! There was no need to urge me. I could not have taken my eyes off Padma had I tried.

He had been blowing the coals while the Doctor was speaking, and now as they burst forth into flame he laid  aside the little brass-backed bellows used for the purpose,  and drew from beneath his loose robe a small box of beaten  gold. This he opened and placed upon the altar in close proximity to Maurice’s head. It was a curious old affair, about four inches in length by three across, and an inch and  a half deep, the top and sides were covered with cabalistic  figures, beaten up in high relief.

From this he took a small vial not unlike a homœopathic medicine bottle, and removing the stopper flung its contents into the dish. Instantly a lambent flame shot up, resembling the flame of alcohol, which, for all I know, it may have been. Returning the bottle to the box the lama next took out a small packet, which proved to be a greyish powder  wrapped up in Chinese rice paper. A little of this was also thrown into the dish, and immediately the flame changed  from blue to an intense crimson. I thought then it was the strontium light, and but for the singular fact that during  fully half an hour the flame continued to burn uninterruptedly without further addition either from the bottle or the  packet, I might think so still.

“That’s it! That’s it!” whispered the Doctor. “Wait, Wylde! He’ll surprise you in a minute. Once you get your attention fixed on that flame he’ll make you believe you see  your grandmother—you’ll see.” But not yet was I fascinated by the flame.

Now Padma moved toward us and with an imperious wave of the hand bade us follow him.

He took us across the room to the side where the corpses were stored, seized one of the handles and pulled.

Slowly the heavy box moved from its niche and we beheld the body of our adept lying within, swathed in white