Atfirstthistalkwithitsjargonofwordswhichhedidnotcomprehend，boredhimconsiderably，butbydegreeshefeltthathewasbeingdrawnintoavortex，andbegantounderstanditsdrift。Evenwhileitwasenigmaticitacquiredakindofunholyattractionforhim，andhebegantoseekoutitssecretmeaninginwhichhefoundthatcompanyreadyinstructors。
“Youngbrother，“saidMadameRiennes，“wedealwiththethingsnotofthebody，butofthesoul。Thebody，whatisit？Inafewyearsitwillbedustandashes，butthesoul——itiseternal——andallthosestarsyoustudyareitsinheritance，andyouandI，ifwecultivateourspiritualparts，shallruleinthem。“
Thenshewouldrollherbigeyesandbecomeinawaymagnificent，sothatGodfreyforgotheruglinessandtherepulsionwithwhichsheinspiredhim。
Intheendhisoutlookonlifeandtheworldbecamedifferent，andthisnotsomuchbecauseofwhathelearnedfromhisesotericteachers，asthroughsomechangeinhisinternalself。Hegrewtoappreciatethevastnessofthingsandtheinfinitepossibilitiesofexistence。Indeed，hisspiritualeducationwasafittingpendanttohisphysicalstudyoftheheavens，peopledwithunnumberedworlds，eachofthemthehome，doubtless，ofaninfinitevarietyoflife，andeachofthemkeepingitsawfulsecretslockedinitsfloatingorb。HetrembledinpresenceofthestupendousWhole，ofwhichthusbydegreeshebecameaware，andthoughitfrightenedhim，thoughtwithpityofthebusymillionsofmankindtowhomsuchmysteriesarenothingatall；whoarelostintheirbusinessoridleness，intheireating，drinking，sleeping，love-making，andgeneralsatisfactionoftheinstinctswhichtheypossessincommonwitheveryotheranimal。Theyearningforwisdom，thedesiretoknow，enteredhisyoungheartandpossessedit，asoncethesedidthatofSolomon，tosuchadegreeindeed，thatstandingonthethresholdofhisdays，hewouldhavepaidthemallaway，andwiththemhisshareinthiswarmandbreathingworld，couldhehavebeenassuredthatinexchangehewouldreceivethekeyofthetreasure-houseoftheInfinite。
Suchanattitudewasneitherhealthynornaturaltoanormal，vigorousladjustenteringuponmanhood，and，aswillbeseen，itdidnotendure。Likeeverythingelse，ithaditscauses。Hisastronomicalstudieswereoneofthese，butadeeperreasonwastobefoundinthoseSundayséancesattheVillaOgilvy。ForalongwhileGodfreydidnotknowwhathappenedtohimontheseoccasions。Thepartysatroundthelittletable，talkingofwonderfulthings；MadameRienneslookedathimandsometimestookhishand，whichhedidnotlike，andthenherememberednomoreuntilhewokeup，feelingtired，andyetinawayexhilarated，forwiththemysteriesofhypnoticsleephewasnotyetacquainted。Nordiditoccurtohimthathewasbeingusedamediumbycertainofthemostadvancedspiritualistsintheworld。