But before I go I must give you a warning, though
I rely on you never to mention my name in the matter. Avoid the
woman who calls herself Madame de Medici; she'll break you.
She's an adventuress, and has a dangerous acquaintance with
Eastern cults, and. . . I can't explain properly. . . ."
"Annesley! the Key!"
"It's the theft of the Key that has prompted me to speak, Deacon.
Madame has some sort of power--hypnotic power. She employed it
on me once, to my cost! Paul Harley, of Chancery Lane, can tell
you more about her. The house she's living in temporarily used
to belong to a notorious Eurasian, Zani Chada. To make a clean
breast of it I daren't thwart her openly; but I felt it up to me
to tell you that she possesses the secret of post-hypnotic
suggestion. I may be wrong, but I think you stole that Key!"
"I!"
"She hypnotized you at some time, and, by means of this uncanny
power of hers, ordered you to steal the Key of the Temple of
Heaven in such and such a fashion at a certain hour in the
night. . ."
"I had a strange seizure while I was at her house. . . ."
"Exactly! During that time you were receiving your hypnotic
orders. You would remember nothing of them until the time to
execute them--which would probably be during sleep.
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