The Royal Ghost

by Linda Stratmann

  Louisa and Enid departed after breakfast, chattering with excitement, and later that morning the nursemaid, Anderson, took the twins out to bathe in the sea air, secure in their perambulator, a four-wheeled carriage like a battle wagon in miniature, with matching compartments and parasols. It was only then that Mina informed Rose that a gentleman might call to discuss a charitable donation, and she was to show him into the parlour and bring tea.

  Mr Arthur Wallace Hope arrived true to the hour. As Mina entered the parlour, she found him standing to greet her with the confident posture of a man whose presence in any house bestowed upon it a great favour, and who knew it well. He reminded her of a bear at the zoo risen up on its hind legs, darkly furred, massive and threatening. As he thanked Mina for her kindness in agreeing to see him, his manner was both cordial and respectful, but there was, she saw, a sharp, cool determination lurking behind his smile. Once they were both seated, facing each other at a discreet distance, Mina said, ‘I assume that the purpose of your visit is to request a donation to the fund for the relief of Dr Livingstone?’

  He looked surprised. ‘No, not at all, although if you wish to make a donation I can supply you with the address where it is to be sent.’

  ‘Then I am at a loss to imagine why you have requested to see me.’ Mina smiled in the way ladies did when they wished to convey that they did not understand what was being asked of them. Those who did not know her often assumed that her small tilted body was the outward sign of a deficient mind. This misapprehension was usually corrected quickly but sometimes she allowed them to go on with the error for as long as it served her purpose. It was not a mistake anyone made twice.

  ‘I have come,’ he said, as if making a grand announcement at a prize-giving, ‘because I believe that it is in your power to right a terrible wrong.’

  Mina was mystified, but had the strong impression that she was being offered something disguised as an honour that would ultimately prove to be quite different in nature. ‘That is very flattering. To what are you referring?’

  ‘Can you not guess? I refer of course to the pitiful plight of the spirit medium Miss Eustace, who is even now incarcerated in Lewes House of Correction, awaiting trial for crimes of which she is wholly innocent.’

  Mina paused. She realised that she would have to tread very carefully with Mr Hope. As far as she was concerned Miss Eustace was a criminal who was exactly where she richly deserved to be, but it would not do to say so at this juncture. Open opposition to her visitor’s wishes was not the best policy if she was to learn more of his thoughts and intentions. ‘I am given to understand that that is not the lady’s real name,’ she said cautiously.

  Hope dismissed this observation with an indulgent smile. ‘Her nom de théâtre. Some of the most prominent and sought-after mediums choose to adopt a public name to protect their true identities so that when they are in private they can live a calm and untroubled life. Mediums, by the nature of their work, often require peace and rest after communication with the spirits, especially if a manifestation has been produced, in order to fully restore their exhausted energies.’

  Rose arrived with the tea tray and an unreadable expression. After pouring the tea she stood waiting for further instructions. ‘That will be all, Rose. I will ring when you are needed again,’ said Mina. Rose paused only to cast a glance at Mr Hope before she retreated.

  Mina sipped her tea. ‘I really do not see how it may be in my power to influence Miss Eustace’s situation.’

  Hope cradled his teacup in his large hands, where it resembled a porcelain thimble. ‘You have, have you not, attended several séances conducted by Miss Eustace?’

  ‘I have, yes.’

  ‘One of which, I am reliably informed, you attempted to disrupt.’

  Mina saw that he was referring to an incident in which, after pretending to stumble, she had fallen against the figure of Phoebe, a radiant manifestation produced by Miss Eustace, which she had proved to her satisfaction was the medium herself clad in glowing draperies. Such was the devoted gullibility of the lady’s adherents that the exposure had not, as it ought to have done, ended her career. Mina might have protested to Mr Hope that her fall was an accident, but thought it unlikely that she would convince him, and to lie would be a blunder. She remained silent.

  ‘Despite this,’ Hope went on, still maintaining his outward air of affability, ‘Miss Eustace was kind enough to pay you a visit, and on that occasion she sensed that you yourself are without knowing it a powerful medium who only needed to develop your abilities, something she offered to assist you in doing, however, you rejected her generosity.’

  Mina felt suddenly chilled. The incident at the séance was well known in town, but the details of Miss Eustace’s visit to her home had not been broadcast. If her visitor knew so much then he had heard it from the lady herself or her associates. She could only conclude that Mr Hope was no distant admirer of the fascinating fraudster, but one of her intimates. Still she said nothing.

  He drained his cup with relish and put it down. ‘There followed an event,’ he went on, further emboldened by Mina’s reticence, ‘the one at which Miss Eustace was apprehended. I will not call it a séance, since it was more of a charade, and had been deliberately and carefully designed with the sole object of entrapping Miss Eustace; an attempt to demonstrate to the world that she was a false medium. This shameless mockery was supposedly held at the behest of a new patroness, a Lady Finsbury, who made a very pretty little speech before she revealed her true colours. I must inform you that I have made careful enquiries and have established that no such person as Lady Finsbury exists.’ He paused and fixed Mina with an intense and knowing stare. ‘You do not seem to find that information surprising.’

  Mina was not at all surprised, since the part of ‘Lady Finsbury’ had been performed with skill and panache by her brother Richard’s then mistress, conjuror’s assistant Nellie Gilden.

  ‘I believe that you played a significant role in that disgraceful affair; in fact, I think that you devised, financed and orchestrated it. Lady Finsbury, I am convinced, was an actress hired by you in order to lure an innocent lady, one who has been a great comfort to the bereaved, into a dangerous situation. Whatever crimes were committed on that occasion, they were not perpetrated by Miss Eustace, who is the most accomplished and powerful medium in the country. As anyone with a knowledge of spiritualism would have known, such a travesty could never have resulted in a proper display of spiritualism, as it was arranged in such a manner that it could only have ended in failure. Not only that,’ he went on, his voice increasing in both force and severity of tone, ‘but you arranged for the event to be attended by many of the leading citizens of Brighton, as well as representatives of the press. Do you deny it?’ This last was almost a shout, a challenge meant to disturb and rattle her into a confession.

  Mina, unused to such treatment, was outraged that her guest thought he could use his position in society and masculine authority to intimidate her in her own home. An angry retort sprang to her lips but was stifled. She was obliged to gather all her resolve in an effort to keep her head and maintain the calmness and dignity that the situation required. ‘I will neither confirm nor deny anything,’ she informed him, quietly but steadily. ‘You have come here to request my assistance, yet thus far have requested nothing, only raised your voice to level accusations. If that is all your message then I require you to leave now.’ She made to ring for Rose, but he raised a placatory hand.

  ‘Miss Scarletti, please, I do not mean to offend you, and I apologise if I have done so. My strong feelings on the matter ran away with me and I beg your forgiveness. All I wished to do was establish the facts, which I think I have done to my satisfaction. You need say nothing; your silence on the subject is answer enough. You must admit, however, that as regards Miss Eustace’s current unpleasant situation it is very clear to any observer that all roads lead to you. Many prominent ladies and gentlemen in Brighton have described you as the person re
sponsible, with, I am sorry to say, approval. But please, I entreat you, allow me to speak further.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Mina reluctantly, staying her hand, thankful that it was she alone who was his focus, and that neither Richard nor Dr Hamid – who had also played a part in the exposure of the fraud – had been identified as her confederates. She was also relieved that Mr Hope, having concluded that the elegant Lady Finsbury was a mere actress, had not therefore thought it necessary to make further enquiries to discover her identity.

  Hope had calmed himself and now gazed on her sadly. ‘Can I not persuade you to reconsider your opposition to the spirits? I have wide experience of these things and I have found that those who are the strongest mediums are often so fearful of their abilities that at first they reject the spirit world altogether until the time comes when they finally, joyfully embrace it.’

  ‘There has been no joy for me in the spirit world as presented by mediums,’ Mina replied. ‘There has been upset and distress not only to myself but also to my family and my friends. Please do not mistake me. I do not deny the existence of the spirit. I attend church, I read the Bible and I pray. But some things are hidden from us during our life on earth and only become apparent after our passing. I am content to wait for that knowledge until my proper time comes.’

  ‘But that is because you have not opened your mind to the brightness that surrounds you!’ exclaimed Hope, his face lit up by emotion like that of an evangelical preacher. For a moment Mina was reminded of the expression of Miss Eustace’s horrid acolyte, young Mr Clee, with his Byronic curls and mad, sea-mist eyes as he tried to draw her into the fold. ‘Do you not hunger for knowledge and certainty?’ Hope went on. ‘Miss Eustace can lead you towards that understanding if you will only allow it.’

  ‘Not, I think, where she is presently situated,’ said Mina drily.

  If he detected a tone of satire in her voice he ignored it. ‘No. She is surrounded by negative influences that drain her powers. She is quite unable to manifest even the smallest apparition.’

  Since Miss Eustace was presumably without her supplies of transparent draperies and phosphorised oil Mina did not find this situation surprising. She had read of mediums who claimed to be able to pass through solid walls, but decided that it would not be helpful to mention that Miss Eustace was clearly not one of their number. ‘You have interviewed her I take it?’

  ‘I have. She is in a most dejected state. She now realises that she allowed herself to fall under the influence of men who did not have her interests at heart but merely wished to exploit her undoubted abilities. They too await trial, and we may safely leave them to their fate. It is she alone who concerns me. I will be open with you, Miss Scarletti. This is what I intend to do. My first object is to see Miss Eustace acquitted of the trumped-up charges against her and, once that is achieved, I will do everything in my power to restore her to her rightful position as one of the leading spirit mediums of our day. She still has many devoted followers here in Brighton and will return in triumph. As I said in my lecture, Brighton is a focus of spiritual power and nowhere I believe is it stronger than in the Royal Pavilion. I intend to take a room there – the banqueting hall will be ideal for the purpose – to enable Miss Eustace to conduct her séances in the most favourable possible conditions.’

  Mina was shocked that Miss Eustace had the effrontery to want to show her face in Brighton again, whatever the financial lure. ‘Do you really think that advisable? If she must hold séances, and I certainly cannot stop her from doing so, would it not be better to try some other location, where there are no people she has cheated? There would be uproar if she came here again.’ As soon as the words were out of her mouth, however, Mina understood. Miss Eustace wished to capitalise on the current excitement about the royal ghost. With her abilities she could create a sensation. ‘I suppose Brighton would be very receptive to mediums at present,’ she admitted.

  ‘Exactly,’ beamed Hope, ‘and we will soon see what will happen to those suggestions of cheating. Blown away in a sea breeze to be replaced by the warmth of spiritual light.’

  ‘But I still do not see what it is I am being asked to do. Supposing Miss Eustace was acquitted, which I think highly unlikely, am I expected to attend her séances? I rather think she would not permit me under any circumstances to attend a demonstration she might give, for fear that I would show her up as a humbug.’

  Hope adopted his friendliest smile, one that Mina was learning to distrust. ‘Since it is well known in Brighton that you were the instrument of Miss Eustace’s temporary reversal, your opinion on her mediumship does carry some weight here. What I am earnestly requesting therefore is that you reconsider your position. When you have done so, and can fully appreciate your former error, I would like you to issue a statement to the press to the effect that you now accept that the lady is a genuine spirit medium.’

  Mr Hope, still smiling, sat back in his chair and viewed Mina’s dismay with evident satisfaction.

  Nine

  Mina was momentarily too amazed to speak, since she had seen with her own eyes the evidence of Miss Eustace’s falsity. Richard, who had been foolhardy enough to climb through the window of the medium’s lodgings and search her possessions, had found trunks packed with all the paraphernalia of a conjuror, and information she had collected about the residents of Brighton to give verisimilitude to the supposed messages from beyond, material which was now in the hands of the police. The case against Miss Eustace had been made very clear before the Lewes magistrates and Mr Hope could not be ignorant of the facts. An outright refusal was the obvious response but again she bit back the instinct and stayed calm.

  ‘I am sure you must be aware that the evidence against her is very strong.’

  He shrugged. ‘There may be evidence as you call it, but these things can be viewed in more ways than one, and I believe that if there proves to be a case of any sort it will not be against the lady, only the men who controlled her.’

  ‘Mr Hope, you must know that I have experienced her trickery myself.’

  He gazed on her as one might a child or a simpleton. ‘Oh, I know what it is you speak of, your very tangible contact with Phoebe, a dangerous experiment that threatened the lives of you both. I have heard similar statements from so many who close their minds to the great truth. But allow me to explain. What few people appreciate is that the power of a medium is a very delicate thing – it may be well one day and drained the next, yet the public, who rarely understand these things, expect it to be always there in strength. A mere mountebank may perform his tricks at any time, since that is what they are – tricks. For the medium, on the other hand, under certain conditions, and most especially when surrounded by harsh unbelievers, the ability to commune with the spirit world may fail altogether, and yet a convincing display is still expected. On those rare occasions, the medium who does not wish to disappoint those who take such comfort from communication with the spirits, will oblige by employing non-spiritual means to produce the effects desired.’

  ‘So you are saying that mediums do cheat?’

  ‘I would not call it cheating.’

  ‘I would.’

  ‘I reiterate,’ he said very patiently, ‘this happens only rarely, and it is not done for the advantage of the medium, but in order to give consolation to the bereaved. And that inevitably is exactly when the accusations of fraud arise. Most of the time the apparitions seen and communications received at séances are entirely genuine. Can you not acknowledge that?’

  Mina thought carefully. ‘Irrespective of what I might think about Miss Eustace’s abilities, or all mediums for that matter, there is an important issue which you have not addressed. Miss Eustace is not about to stand trial for fraudulent mediumship; her case is far more serious. She is accused, quite rightly in my opinion, of extorting large sums of money from an unsuspecting lady under false pretences by passing on messages supposedly from the spirit of her late brother, messages which were later proven by docum
entary evidence to be untrue.’

  Hope shook his head emphatically. ‘I do not believe that Miss Eustace is guilty of any crime. As to the spirit messages, well, we only have the word of her accuser, Miss Whinstone, as to what words actually passed. There was an arrangement that was made between the parties in good faith, and the lady completely understood its provisions, but she later discovered that it was a greater drain on her resources than anticipated. She could, had she wished, have approached Miss Eustace and asked for some variation, or even requested to cancel the arrangement by mutual agreement, but unfortunately she chose instead to try and extricate herself from her difficulty by claiming that she had been duped.’

  Mina was now sufficiently annoyed by this nonsense to state her position clearly. ‘That is ridiculous. I suppose it is what Miss Eustace has told you. You should know that Miss Whinstone is a friend of my family. She is a good kind lady who would never stoop to the action you have described, or indeed any dishonesty. If Miss Eustace wishes to malign her in this way then I certainly cannot offer her any support.’

  Mr Hope did not appear discomfited by this. ‘You may wish to reconsider. I should mention that in the forthcoming trial it will be a part of Miss Eustace’s defence that her accuser did not tell the truth before the magistrates. If Miss Whinstone tells the same tale at the assizes and Miss Eustace is acquitted then your friend will be open to a charge of perjury.’