"Perhaps," ventured Godfrey, softly, "your crystal could give us some
further information which we very much desire."
The adept turned his dark eyes on the speaker, and it seemed to me
that they glittered more coldly, as though they recognised an
adversary.
"What information, sir?" he asked.
"Information as to the manner of Mr. Vaughan's passing--can you tell
us anything of that?"
The adept shook his head.
"I only saw the soul as it passed over. I knew, however, that it had
been torn from the body by violence."
"How did you know that?" broke in Goldberger.
"Because of its colour," answered the adept; and then, when he saw our
benumbed expressions, he explained. "Souls which pass in peace are
white; souls which the body has driven forth by its own hands are
black; souls which are torn from the body by an alien hand are red. My
pupil's soul was red."
I could see that Goldberger did not know whether to snort with
derision or to be impressed. He ended by smiling feebly. As for me, I
admit I was impressed.
"When an alien hand, as you put it, is used," said the coroner, "we
call it murder in this country, and the law tries to get hold of the
alien and to send his soul after his victim's.
Pages:
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112