The Rape of Venice by Dennis Wheatley

descended on the party by pinching her bottom.
    The dim light hid her blushes, but much embarrassed she stammered out, ‘I ... I thought I felt a ghostly hand touch my cheek.’
    Malderini, who was standing near her, shook his head and, speaking in French as usual, declared in his rather high-pitched voice, ‘Maybe it was so, Madame. If you are psychic you may well have felt the touch of the long-dead in such a place as this. Yours was not the only cry that I have heard these past few minutes. The despairing screams of virgins being dragged to the sacrifice still echo round the walls. I have but to look at yonder archway to see the bearded priests with their long knives and the terror on the faces of their victims.’
    â€˜I take it, Sir, that you are drawing on your imagination to supplement your theories as an antiquary about what may havetaken place here,’ remarked Colonel Thursby, drily.
    Malderini turned sharply upon him. ‘Not at all! Not at all! Certain people have the power to see beyond the veil, and I am one of them. Given propitious circumstances I can both look back into the past and foresee the future.’
    Georgina, on her mother’s side, had gipsy blood, and had inherited the gift of telling fortunes. She said to the Venetian: ‘I, too, have often secured accurate glimpses of the future, but seen outside their context such glimpses can, at times, be pestiferously misleading.’
    â€˜More frequent practice should enable your Ladyship to assess their meaning with greater accuracy. What vehicle do you use to make contact with the unseen powers?’
    â€˜I used to gaze into a goblet filled with pure spring water; but, some years ago, I suffered an experience with regard to my own future which was so unnerving that I decided to abandon such seeking after hidden knowledge.’
    â€˜Few decisions could be harder to justify,’ Malderini replied somewhat rudely. ‘Psychic gifts are rare and should be cherished by those who have them. You should renew your contact with the spirit-world and would be well advised to do so through a human medium. I studied in Paris under the famous Doctor Mesmer and learned from him how to turn the minds of others into far more potent vehicles than crystals, cards and such impedimenta. It is a fundamental of the Secret Art that all occult operations require the exertion of will, and you would find your powers greatly increased if you brought under your control the subconscious mind of some lesser personality.’
    â€˜You speak as though you would have us believe you to be a magician,’ Sheridan said in a slightly mocking tone.
    â€˜If, my friend, by that designation you imply a person who by will-power can cause phenomena to occur which are ordinarily regarded as impossible, then I may certainly claim to be one.’
    â€˜My daughter has compelled me to recognise that some people are gifted with second sight,’ the Colonel remarked, ‘but I still cannot believe it possible to bring about material happenings solely through the exercise of will, even if given the help of the Devil.’
    â€˜Then, Sir, it is high time that someone showed you to be in error,’ the Venetian retorted, ‘and if you wish, on our return to Stillwaters, I will prove my point by a demonstration.’
    â€˜You shall, Sir, by all means,’ replied the Colonel quickly. ‘I have ever taken the greatest interest in all forms of science, and surely the moving of mountains, or even of molehills, without the application of physical force, must be counted a scientific triumph.’
    No more was said on the subject, at the time, but they had hardly descended from the carriages before Beckford raised it again by saying, ‘I can hardly contain my impatience to witness the demonstration that Signor Malderini has promised us. When and where is it to take place?’
    â€˜Without preparations of an involved nature, and an