When Persephone had finished with the questions and the burning of them and withdrawn, Madame began her ritual humming. As usual, Madame’s spirit contacts answered various questions from the other attendees. Finally, Madame’s spirit voice said, “Lucretia, have you done what I told you to do?”

“Phineas, is that you?” Mrs. Darlington asked eagerly.

“Of course it is. Answer me. Have you done as I instructed you?”

“I’m trying, but I haven’t been able to get the lawyers to release the funds.”

“You must try harder, Lucretia. This is for your own good.”

“I know. I will do as you instructed me, Phineas. I promise!”

“Aaaaahhhhh!” Elizabeth cried in her spirit voice. “Stop! Don’t do it!”

Elizabeth had closed her eyes, but she could feel everyone’s startled attention turn to her.

“What is it?” Madame asked in her own voice. “What do you see?”

“This lady,” Elizabeth said, moving her head from side to side as if she couldn’t control it. “Do not give that man your money. He will steal it all!”

“What?” Mrs. Darlington asked, obviously bewildered. “Are you talking to me?”

“Lucretia,” Elizabeth said to confirm it. “That man is a thief. He will take all your money.”

“But . . .” Mrs. Darlington said plaintively. “Phineas told me to do it.”

“He is mistaken. Do not trust the man from the water.”

“From the water?” one of the other women asked, obviously confused.

“I see water,” Elizabeth said. “It is dark and dangerous, and your money is sinking, disappearing, lost forever. . . .”

“What does water have to do with it?” another woman asked.

“He’s a child of the water,” Elizabeth’s spirit said. “He will devour you and leave you alone and penniless.”

Mrs. Darlington gasped at the horrible prospect and others joined her.

“Who are you?” one of the women asked. “Who is she? How does she know these things?”

“I am nobody,” Elizabeth groaned. “I am just a vessel.”

“Do you have a message for me?” another woman asked. “I need to know what happened to my son.”

But Elizabeth had no idea what had happened to her son, so she groaned again and opened her eyes. She didn’t have to pretend to be surprised to find everyone staring at her with mingled horror and fascination. Except for Madame Ophelia, who was apparently quite furious and trying her best to hide it.

“Did it happen again?” Elizabeth asked Madame in dismay.

“You had a message for Mrs. Darlington,” she replied without the slightest trace of pleasure.

Elizabeth turned to the lady in question. “I hope it was helpful.”

“Don’t you remember?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t.”

Mrs. Darlington did not appear pleased, either. “You told me not to do something that my husband’s spirit had told me to do.”

“I’m so sorry. I’m afraid I didn’t tell you anything at all, though. I don’t even know what I may have said.”