mistress, by her power of acting on the visitors by means of that

mysterious capacity lately investigated by science, especially by

the school of Charcot, known by the name of hypnotic influence.

By these means she gets hold of this Russian, this kind-hearted

Sadko, [Sadko, the hero of a legend] the rich guest, and uses his

trust in order first to rob and then pitilessly to murder him."

"Well, he is piling it on now, isn't he?" said the president with

a smile, bending towards the serious member.