Prudence was going to be as startled by this bit of information as i was. He was suddenly impatient to discuss the new twist in the case ith her.

What do you mean, she's not here, Flowers? Where the devil is le?" Sebastian had hurried straight home in order to share with rudence the details of the singular new development in the investiga-on. It was extremely irritating to learn that she was not waiting ea-jrly to applaud his brilliance.

"I believe Lady Angelstone has gone out, my lord."

Sebastian made a bid for his fraying patience. "Where did she go, lowers?"

Flowers gave a small, discreet cough. "To the home of the Misses ingleton in Wellwood Street, sir."

"Who the devil are the Misses Singleton?"

"Lady Angelstone described them as clients." Flowers looked

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They apparently wished to consult with her ladyship about a matter of spectral phenomena. Her ladyship set out almost immediately."

"So she's pursuing an investigation, is she?"

Flowers gave him a woeful look. "Something was said about an electricity machine, my lord."

Sebastian frowned. "Electricity machine?"

"I have reason to believe her ladyship has borrowed one from a Mr. Matthew Hornsby and intends to use it in the course of her inves­tigation today."

Sebastian was momentarily distracted from his own case. "That might prove interesting."

Flowers drew himself up. "I would like to inquire, my lord, whether staff should accustom itself to this sort of behavior on the part of her ladyship?"

"Yes, Flowers, I think you had all better get used to the notion that this will never be a completely normal household."

"You say the strange moaning sounds seem to come from this section of the garret?" Prudence pushed the electricity machine into place in the center of the small dark room directly beneath the roof of the narrow house.

"I think that is about right." Evangeline Singleton, a stout, forth­right woman of indeterminate years, frowned thoughtfully. She turned to her sister for confirmation. "Don't you think that is about right, Iphigenia?"

"I suppose so," Iphigenia, small, frail, and fluttery, eyed the elec­tricity machine with deep dread. "I hear the sounds downstairs in my bedchamber, so they must be coming from somewhere around here. But I really do not know if we should be attempting to find the ghost, Evangeline."

"We cannot allow the thing to continue moaning at all hours of the night," Evangeline said. "You need your rest." She turned back to Prudence. "Now, then, Lady Angelstone, how is this machine going to force our ghost to appear?"

"According to my new theory," Prudence said, "spectral phenom­ena utilize electricity in the atmosphere in order to render themselves visible. I believe that the chief reason they are only rarely seen is because it is uncommon for them to have access to sufficient electric­ity."

Iphigenia's eyes widened in alarm. "You intend to provide our ghost with the electricity it needs to make itself visible?"

"Precisely." Prudence straightened and surveyed the machine she had borrowed from Trevor's friend, Matthew Hornsby.

It was a simple arrangement involving a glass cylinder, a hand crank, a leather pad, and a jar. Matthew had assured her there was no danger involved in the operation of the machine.

"I beg your pardon, Lady Angelstone, but does your husband ap­prove of you carrying out these investigations?" Iphigenia asked cau­tiously.

"Oh, yes." Prudence bustled around the machine, making certain everything was ready. "Angelstone has a very intellectual nature. He is quite interested in my work."

"I see." Iphigenia gave her a strange glance. "One hears that Angelstone is a rather unusual man."

"I suppose he is." Prudence tested the hand crank. It turned easily. The glass cylinder started to rotate beneath the leather pad. "I cer­tainly do not know any other man quite like him."

Iphigenia traded a silent glance with her sister. "One hears that he is somewhat dangerous."

"Not in the least." The cylinder began to rotate faster as Prudence worked the crank. "Would one of you put out the lamp? I doubt we shall be able to see anything if there is too much light."

"Lady Angelstone," Iphigenia began uneasily, "I really do not think this is such a good idea. There are no windows up here and it will be quite dark if we put out the lamp."

"Really, Iphigenia, you must not be so timid." Evangeline went briskly over to the lamp and turned it off.

The room was plunged into complete darkness.

"Excellent," Prudence said. "If there is a ghost up here we shall make him visible in no time." She cranked the handle of the electricity machine as rapidly as possible.

"But I do not actually want to see the thing," Iphigenia whim­pered. "I just want you to get rid of it."

"Get hold of yourself," Evangeline ordered crisply. "Lady Angel­stone knows what she is about, don't you, madam?"

"Certainly," Prudence called above the noise of the whirling cylin­der. "I have great confidence in my latest theory. We should produce sufficient electricity for a ghost very soon now." suited another sort of expert, Evangeline. This whole experience is unsettling my nerves."

"You can take a dose of laudanum when it is over," Evangeline said. "Now do stop fussing. You might scare off the ghost."

Prudence turned the crank faster and faster. "Creating electricity is a bit more difficult than I had thought it would be," she said breath­lessly.

Light flashed suddenly in a white-hot arc that illuminated the room for a few brief seconds. Prudence heard Iphigenia's horrified gasp.

"Dear heavens, Evangeline, we've raised the devil himself."

"What in the world?" Prudence looked around just in time to see Sebastian's face rendered in harsh, demonic relief by the brilliant spark of electricity. His golden eyes burned in the glare of the unnatu­ral light.

An instant later he was gone.

Iphigenia moaned weakly as the room was once more enveloped in complete darkness.

"My goodness." Evangeline's voice shook. "What on earth was that, Lady Angelstone?"

Prudence scowled into the gloom. "Angelstone? Is that you?"

"Sorry, my dear." There was a scratching noise and then a candle flared. Sebastian smiled faintly. "Didn't mean to interrupt your inves­tigation. The housekeeper said you were all up here, so I decided to join you."

"Good lord," Evangeline said, sounding extremely relieved. "You gave me quite a start, sir. I do belieye my sister has fainted."

"Oh, dear." Prudence glanced down and saw Iphigenia lying on the floor. "So she has. Angelstone, next time you decide to observe my investigation techniques, kindly announce yourself in the proper fash­ion."

"Forgive me, my dear," he said humbly. "I was trying to be unob­trusive."

"You are not the unobtrusive sort, my lord. Look what you did to my client. You have quite terrified her out of her wits." Prudence sighed. "I suppose we shall have to start all over again now."

"It was Lucifer himself. I saw him." Iphigenia's eyelashes fluttered but did not open. "No more. I beg of you, Lady Angelstone. Please stop the investigation."

Prudence frowned. "But we were iust eettine started."

"Quite right," Evangeline said as she held a vinaigrette bottle un­der her sister's nose. "We cannot stop now. But perhaps it would be best if Angelstone did not participate in the investigation. No offense, your lordship. It's just that my sister's nerves are easily overset."

"I'm afraid she's right." Prudence looked at Sebastian. "I think you had better leave, sir. I cannot have you alarming my clients."

Sebastian frowned. "I wished to speak with you, Prue."

"Later, my lord." She shooed him out of the garret with a sweep­ing movement of her hands. "As you can see, I am quite busy at the moment. Run along, if you please."