me, and full of questions about my adventures in the siege. I soon noticed, however, that my strange companion attracted their attention. Quiet, unassuming, and retiring though he was, there certainly was something so singular in his manner, appearance, and mode of speech, that one could not help observing him. Hilbert, a Merton man, with whom I was very intimate, and who had joined our party, was especially fascinated by him. Hilbert was an eccentric man, who was chaffed a good deal for his credulity in mesmerism and spiritualism. He and Posela were greatly drawn to each other, and were soon on Hilbert's favourite topic—the occult sciences.
"I am convinced," said Hilbert, "that there are two ruling forces in this world at the present day. Money and Psychic force. Of these I am by no means sure that the latter and least accepted is not really the most potent; for the man possessed of psychic force can compel those under his influence to give their money as he wishes by will-power. Many of the great men of history have been so, not so much by reason of their mental endowments, as by reason of this psychic force. See Napoleon I.—how marvellous, almost supernatural, was his career; and a great deal
