Dr. Connolly looked up at the man in front of him. The man was a baron or earl or something of the other that sounded good to the class-focused but held no interest to him. He had deliberately kept pretending to read as the man entered the study, the window's curtains open just enough to bring some light in but not enough light the room well. He could turn on the electric lights, but what would be the fun of that?

"Professor Connolly, it is good to finally get a chance to speak. I have heard that you are one well-versed in the arts of the supernatural. I wish to talk to you of a possible specter that might be of some interest to someone such as you."

Professor Connolly smiled politely and put the book on his desk, leaving it open.

"Yes, quite possibly. The supernatural is of great interest to me. When would you like my assistant and me to come to your town house?"

"I never told you it was my town house. Remarkable." The man said.

Dr. Connolly smiled. "Yes, remarkable. I will be there at nine and I hope you are not expecting a more formal set of dress from either of us. I only speak of it because one such client did. Our conversation, it ended poorly, shall we say."

"No, I expect none of that. In fact, maybe a more working class attire might be in order. Rumor is it was a lady of the night that is the cause of my current predicament. I am unfamiliar with such things, of course."

"Of course, sir." The doctor said. "Well, I will see you at nine then, unless you have further business."

"I did want to ask, and I pray you not think me improper here..."

"I will interrupt, sorry, but it is my outfit and my form that you are asking of?"

"It is, doctor."

"Let us just say that in my line of work, things can take very strange turns and I'll leave it there. Now, I do apologize, but I must prepare for tonight."

"Of course. Good day."

"And good day to you as well."

As the man left, Dr. Connolly had to laugh. Supernatural. Specters. He believed in none of that nonsense, but it was fashionable to do so and it was easy enough for a man like him to engage in this silly rubbish for financial reasons. His real research, the study of the brain and the nervous system did require considerable money and often a well-placed friend of two. That was how he ended up in his current state. He needed money to perfect his device and while it had worked on him, moving and stitching his head onto the body of a woman whose brain no longer functioned, he would more than one success before he showed it off to the world. That required money, money that his new friend would be paying him to investigate this apparition. A loose pipe, bad wiring, or a bored maid having a laugh? Which would the spirit be this time!