Strong Poison: Chapter 17 - Miss Climpson Fakes a Table Rapping

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Chapter 17 Supper was over. It had been served in a beautiful old paneled room with an adam ceiling and fireplace, and the food had been good.

Miss Climpson felt braced and ready.

We'll sit in my own room, shall we? said Miss Booth. It's the only really comfortable place. Most of this house is shut up, of course. If you'll excuse me, dear, I will just run up and give Mrs. Wrayburn her supper and make a comfortable poor thing. And then we can begin. I shan't be more than half an hour or so.

Miss Climpson (0:29)

She's quite helpless, I suppose.

SPEAKER_1 (0:33)

Yes, quite.

Miss Climpson (0:34)

Can she speak?

SPEAKER_1 (0:35)

Not to say speak.

She mumbles sometimes, but one can't make anything of it. It's sad, isn't it? And her so rich.

It will be a happy day for her when she passes over.

Miss Climpson (0:46)

Poor salt, said Miss Climpson.

SPEAKER_1 (0:48)

A hostess led her into a small gaily furnished sitting room and left her there among the cretonne covers and the ornaments.

Miss Climpson ran her eyes rapidly over the books, which were mostly novels, with the exception of some standard works on spiritualism, and then turned her attention to the mantelpiece. It was crowded with photographs, as the mantelpieces of nurses usually are. Conspicuous among hospital groups and portraits inscribed, from your grateful patient, was a cabinet photograph of a gentleman in the dress and moustache of the 90s, standing beside a bicycle, apparently upon a stone balcony in mid-air, with a distant view over a rocky gorge. The frame was silver, heavy and ornate. Too young for a father, said Miss Climpson, as she turned it over and pulled back the catch of the frame.

Miss Climpson (1:32)

Either sweetheart or favorite brother.

My dearest Lucy from her ever loving Harry.

Not a brother, I fancy. Photographers address, Coventry, cycle trade, possibly. Now, what happened to Harry? Not matrimony, obviously. Death or infidelity. First class frame and central position, bunch of hothouse narcissus in a vase. I think Harry has passed over.

What next? Family group? Yes. Names conveniently beneath. Dearest Lucy in a fringe, Papa and Mama. Tom and Gertrude. Tom and Gertrude are older, but they may be still alive. Papa is a parson. Largish house. Country rectory, perhaps. Photographer's address, Maidstone. Wait a minute. Here's Papa in another group with a dozen small boys. Schoolmaster or takes private pupils. Two boys have straw hats with zigzag ribbons. School probably then.

What's that silver cup? Those? Booth and three other names. Pembroke College, Fours, 1883

Not an expensive college.

Wonder whether Papa objected to Harry on account of the cycle manufacturing connection.

That book over there looks like a school prize. It is Maidstone Ladies College for Distinction in English Literature. Just so. Is she coming back? No. False alarm. Young man in khaki. Your loving nephew, G. Booth. Ah, Tom's son. I take it. Did he survive? I wonder. Yes. She is coming. This time.

SPEAKER_1 (3:19)

When the door opened, Miss Climpson was sitting by the fire, deeply engaged in Raymond. So sorry to keep you waiting, said Miss Booth, but the poor old dear is rather restless this evening. She'll do now for a couple of hours, but I shall have to go up again later. Shall we begin at once? I'm so eager to try.

Miss Climpson readily agreed. We usually use this table, said Miss Booth, bringing forward a small round table of bamboo, with a shelf between its legs.

Miss Climpson thought she had never seen a piece of furniture more excellently adapted for the faking of phenomena, and heartily approved of Mrs Craig's choice.

Miss Climpson (3:53)

Do we sit in the light?

SPEAKER_1 (3:55)

She inquired. Not in full light, said Miss Booth. Mrs Craig explained to me that the blue rays of daylight or electricity are too hard for the spirits.

They shatter the vibrations, you see. So we usually put out the light and sit in the firelight, which is quite bright enough for taking notes. Will you write down or shall I?

Miss Climpson (4:14)

Oh, I think you had better do it as you're more accustomed to it, said Miss Climpson.

SPEAKER_1 (4:18)

Very well. Miss Booth fetched a pencil and a pad of paper and switched off the light.

Now we just sit down and place our thumbs and fingertips lightly on the table near the edge. It's better to make a circle, of course, but one can't do that with two people. And just at first, I think it's better not to talk till a rapport is established, you know. Which side will you sit?

Miss Climpson (4:39)

Oh, this will do for me, said Ms. Climpson.