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Ten!IassociatedtheideawithMissPenclosa’snote.Itwaslyingbeforemeonthetable,andItoreitopen.Itwasscribbledinpencilinapeculiarlyangularhandwriting."MYDEARPROFESSORGILROY[itsaid]:PrayexcusethepersonalnatureofthetestwhichIamgivingyou.ProfessorWilsonhappenedtomentiontherelationsbetweenyouandmysubjectofthisevening,anditstruckmethatnothingcouldbemoreconvincingtoyouthanifIweretosuggesttoMissMardenthatsheshouldcalluponyouathalf-pastnineto-morrowmorningandsuspendyourengagementforhalfanhourorso.Scienceissoexactingthatitisdifficulttogiveasatisfyingtest,butIamconvincedthatthisatleastwillbeanactionwhichshewouldbemostunlikelytodoofherownfreewill.Forgetanythingthatshemayhavesaid,asshehasreallynothingwhatevertodowithit,andwillcertainlynotrecollectanythingaboutit.Iwritethisnotetoshortenyouranxiety,andtobegyoutoforgivemeforthemomentaryunhappinesswhichmysuggestionmusthavecausedyou."Yoursfaithfully;"HELENPENCLOSA.Really,whenIhadreadthenote,Iwastoorelievedtobeangry.Itwasaliberty.CertainlyitwasaverygreatlibertyindeedonthepartofaladywhomIhadonlymetonce.But,afterall,Ihadchallengedherbymyscepticism.Itmayhavebeen,asshesaid,alittledifficulttodeviseatestwhichwouldsatisfyme.Andshehaddonethat.Therecouldbenoquestionatalluponthepoint.Formehypnoticsuggestionwasfinallyestablished.Ittookitsplacefromnowonwardasoneofthefactsoflife.
