‘Somehow it seems almost worse in daylight. Meredith, do you think . . . ?’ He hesitated.

‘Yes?’

‘Do you think it possible the sounds and the sobbing were meant to, well, to distract our attention?’

‘That would imply purpose.’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, I don’t know about that. The phenomena may be no more than the rerunning of past events in this house.’

Jeremy Hunt looked puzzled. ‘But if that is so, how could it be dangerous?’

‘If it is so it would not be dangerous. But we don’t know that for sure.’ Carol saw him look at her then look away quickly as if regretting she had caught him doing so. She felt again that cold leaden touch at her stomach. Did Pollard and Meredith think it possible Paul had been lured from their bed so that that thing . . . ? She shivered.

Ann Parish turned to Bourne. ‘Dr Bourne, what do you think? Do you think we are in any real danger here?’

‘None whatsoever!’

‘The tape – ’

‘The tape is interesting. Very interesting indeed. I am even prepared to admit that so far I see no explanation in normal terms. But danger? Nonsense. There is no danger here beyond letting our nerves and imagination get the better of us. I see no reason why we shouldn’t continue our experiments. Jeremy, I take it that meets with your approval?’

‘What? Er – yes. Of course. Cliff? Joyce? Harry? Okay?’

In their own ways they signified their agreement. Harry’s laugh was without much humour.

‘It looks as if we’re stuck here anyway so why not.’

By ten a.m. the camera and lights had been set up and Ann had been once more returned to the morning of the day on which Mary Rolfe died. In complete silence the onlookers listened and watched as Bourne began again his conversation with the entity claiming to be Mary Rolfe.

‘Mary, you’ve told me you are worried about something, that it’s making you very unhappy. Isn’t that so?’

‘Yes.’

‘But you know now you can tell me about it.’

‘I don’t know.’

‘But we talked about this. You remember I am one of your dream people?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then you know that you can talk to me about it. If I am one of your dream people it will remain a secret, won’t it?’

‘I suppose so.’ Doubtfully.

‘Of course it will.’

Paul found himself frowning at the strangeness of the situation.