“ ‘My God, what a concept,’ I said.

“ ‘Just think of it—something that looks human but it’s a ghost, it’s come back to have another go at life or something. But most of the time a ghost uses his organizing principles to appear to one receptive individual.’

“ ‘But how is it you and I both see Goblin?’ I asked.

“ ‘It must be that we have the same kinds of receptors,’ she said. ‘I’m sure we do. And some of the ghosts I see? You probably could see them also.’

“ ‘That’s why we have to get married, Mona,’ I said. ‘We’ll only be lonely for understanding if we marry other people. We’ll always remember this moment.’

“The comment startled her or in some milder way caught her off guard. Then she said a little testily:

“ ‘Quinn, stop talking about our wedding as if it’s something that’s going to happen. I told you. I’m going to marry Pierce. I have to marry Pierce. Now maybe we could have an affair afterwards, but I seriously don’t think so, I think Pierce would be way devastated. That’s the worst thing about marrying Pierce. When I marry him, my erotic adventures will be over.’

“ ‘That’s a wretched thing to look forward to. I hate this guy Pierce. Maybe I’ll kill him.’

“ ‘Don’t talk like that, he’s the sweetest Mayfair on the planet,’ she replied, ‘and he’ll take care of me. Oh, let’s not talk about Pierce. Sometimes I know Pierce deserves somebody better than me and there are so many unsullied virginal types in the family! Maybe you’re right about Pierce. I mean for Pierce’s own sake—. Now let’s get back to the question of ghosts.’

“ ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘explain to me how the nucleus of a ghost is formed, assuming there is one. And let Pierce have one of the virgins, I think that’s a fine idea.’

“ ‘Stirling says the nucleus is the soul, the soul that refused to move on when it was separated from its earthly body.’

“ ‘So the soul has matter to it!’

“ ‘Maybe more what we call electricity,’ she said, ‘or energy, at any rate. Let’s think of it that way, something infinitesimal that is organized energy. It’s all through our bodies when we’re alive, but it contracts to a nucleus when we die, and that nucleus should go into the Light, as we well know. And instead of going out of our stratosphere, as it should when it disconnects from the body, it stays behind, earthbound, and generates for itself a spirit body, a body of energy imprinted by the shape of its lost human body, and that’s how it acquires its characteristics as a ghost.’

“ ‘And you think that it can forget that it was ever human?’