"No, sometimes They doubt and say as much!" Ay, doubt they do! And what 's the consequence? "Of course they doubt"— (You triumph)—"that explains the hitch at once! Doubt posed our 'medium,' puddled his pure mind; He gave them back their rubbish: pitch chaff in, Could flour come out o' the honest mill?" So, prompt Applaud the faithful: cases flock in point, "How, when a mocker willed a 'medium' once Should name a spirit James whose name was George, 'James,' cried the 'medium,'—'t was the test of truth!" In short, a hit proves much, a miss proves more. Does this convince? The better: does it fail? Time for the double-shotted broadside, then— The grand means, last resource. Look black and big! "You style us idiots, therefore—why stop short? Accomplices in rascality: this we hear In our own house, from our invited guest Found brave enough to outrage a poor boy Exposed by our good faith! Have you been heard? Now, then, hear us; one man 's not quite worth twelve. You see a cheat? Here 's some twelve see an ass: Excuse me if I calculate: good day!" Out slinks the skeptic, all the laughs explode, Sludge waves his hat in triumph!