impossible that in rare cases there is a confederate.
[Footnote 6: A. Lang's "Ghost Stories."]
These victims of hypnotists were thus four--two very eminent literary
men, distinguished also in other ways; a very rising naval officer; and a
diplomatist, a member of the foremost of the services of the Crown.
Father B. was attacked in 1888-89 in London. In June 1892, Father H.
visited the Haunted House at B----. He first brought the haunting to the
notice of Lord Bute in August 1892, and in 1893 met a lady who had been
governess at B---- about twelve years before, and who reported that the
house was haunted then.
A noise like the continual explosion of petards, another like the falling
of a large animal against his bedroom door, another noise like spirit
raps, and shrieks were heard by Father H.; no one else then heard them.
Father H. heard them for eight nights, and not on the ninth. As a priest,
he was probably a good deal alone, and had to walk over to a cottage
behind a belt of wood to the eastward, where the retreat of the nuns he
attended to was held.
According to the average experience of Miss Freer's party, he would
only have been attacked on about two days. The last day his tormentor
left--doubtless to avoid a journey with Father H. and subsequent
recognition. How these sounds are produced is easily understood. If the
doctrine of a very light stream of electricity be admitted, the pressure
on the ear readily causes raps--there is a slight buzzing sound if the
pressure on the ear be relaxed at a distance at first, later there is
pain; the flap is from an intermitted pressure. It is a thud if the
pressure be more acute, and the pattering, which is almost identical to
the effect produced by a drop of water rolling on the inside of a
sensitive ear, occurs when there is a double or treble intermission. In
some cases where the victim is strong, the consonants can be worked off
to his hearing.
Add to this a slight effect on the eye, and Miss Campbell's doubtfully
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