“I said I was interested. I am willing to admit the possibility of contacting those who have passed beyond….” That was an exaggeration, but I didn’t want to be excluded from the seance. “…but ghosts, clanking chains in the halls? Ha, ha, ha.”

My laugh was a bit artificial, but it affected Irma as I hoped it would. A faint touch of color came back to her cheeks, and for the first time since I’d met her she looked at me with something less than active dislike. I didn’t blame the girl for resenting me; to her, I represented the freedom and independence she conspicuously lacked. I didn’t resent her, even if she did have all the physical qualities I lacked. I felt sorry for her, and whether she cared for me or not, I wasn’t going to stand around and let the two witches bully her. Not with that kind of half-baked stupidity, anyhow.

Tony had also been studying Irma with concern. He chimed in. “I agree. I’m willing to go along with your theories up to a point, ladies, but let’s not get distracted by fairy tales.”

“Do you call Konstanze’s portrait a fairy tale?” The Gräfin had stopped grinning. She wasn’t used to back talk from inferiors, and it angered her.

“These chance resemblances are fascinating, genetically,” Tony said smoothly. “I remember once seeing a row of portraits in a French château. Two of the faces might have belonged to identical twins. But one man wore medieval armor, and the other the uniform of Napoleon’s Guards.”

Irma had forgotten my kindly intervention. She was staring at Tony the way what’s-her-name must have looked at Saint George, when he killed the dragon. Tony’s chest expanded to twice its normal size. He was so busy exchanging amorous glances with Irma he didn’t notice the Gräfin; but I did, and an unpremeditated shiver ran down my back.

“How fascinating,” she said, through clenched teeth. “You are indeed a confirmed skeptic, Professor Lawrence. Some day you might like to visit our crypt. I think you will find it interesting, in spite of your rational explanations.”

“Oh, there is a crypt?” For a moment Tony forgot to leer at Irma. This was his opening.

“Yes, there is a crypt. Ask me for the keys whenever you like. I do not allow casual guests to go there, but in your case…”

“Perhaps I may also take advantage of your generosity, Gräfin,” I said. “Is there a library in the Schloss? I am something of an expert on old books and manuscripts. If you have never had the library examined by someone who knows books you may discover there are objects of value that could be sold.”