II

           March26.Wilsonwas,asIhadanticipated,veryexultantovermyconversion,andMissPenclosawasalsodemurelypleasedattheresultofherexperiment.Strangewhatasilent,colorlesscreaturesheissaveonlywhensheexercisesherpower!Eventalkingaboutitgiveshercolorandlife.Sheseemstotakeasingularinterestinme.Icannothelpobservinghowhereyesfollowmeabouttheroom.Wehadthemostinterestingconversationaboutherownpowers.Itisjustaswelltoputherviewsonrecord,thoughtheycannot,ofcourse,claimanyscientificweight."Youareontheveryfringeofthesubject,"saidshe,whenIhadexpressedwonderattheremarkableinstanceofsuggestionwhichshehadshownme."IhadnodirectinfluenceuponMissMardenwhenshecameroundtoyou.Iwasnoteventhinkingofherthatmorning.WhatIdidwastosethermindasImightsetthealarumofaclocksothatatthehournameditwouldgooffofitsownaccord.Ifsixmonthsinsteadoftwelvehourshadbeensuggested,itwouldhavebeenthesame.""Andifthesuggestionhadbeentoassassinateme?""Shewouldmostinevitablyhavedoneso.""Butthisisaterriblepower!"Icried."Itis,asyousay,aterriblepower,"sheansweredgravely,"andthemoreyouknowofitthemoreterriblewillitseemtoyou.""MayIask,"saidI,"whatyoumeantwhenyousaidthatthismatterofsuggestionisonlyatthefringeofit?Whatdoyouconsidertheessential?""Ihadrathernottellyou."Iwassurprisedatthedecisionofheranswer.