按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had felt for some time。
〃Hush！〃 said Funkelstein； solemnly。〃Will no one else touch the
plate； as well？ It will seldom move with one。 It does with me。
But I fear I might be suspected of treachery； if I offered to join
Mr。 Arnold。〃
〃Do not hint at such a thing。 You are beyond suspicion。〃
What ground Mr。 Arnold had for making such an assertion； was no
better known to himself than to any one else present。 Von
Funkelstein； without another word； put the fingers of one hand
lightly on the plate beside Mr。 Arnold's。 The plate instantly began
to move upon the paper。 The motion was a succession of small jerks
at first； but soon it tilted up a little； and moved upon a changing
point of support。 Now it careered rapidly in wavy lines； sweeping
back towards the other side； as often as it approached the extremity
of the sheet； the men keeping their fingers in contact with it； but
not appearing to influence its motion。 Gradually the motion ceased。
Von Funkelstein withdrew his hand； and requested that the other
candle should be lighted。 The paper was taken up and examined。
Nothing could be discovered upon it； but a labyrinth of wavy and
sweepy lines。 Funkelstein pored over it for some minutes； and then
confessed his inability to make a single letter out of it； still
less words and sentences； as he had expected。
〃But；〃 said he； 〃we are at least so far successful： it moves。 Let
us try again。 Who will try next？〃
〃I will；〃 said Hugh； who had refrained at first； partly from dislike
to the whole affair； partly because he shrank from putting himself
forward。
A new sheet of paper was fixed。 The candle was extinguished。 Hugh
put his fingers on the plate。 In a second or two； it began to move。
〃A medium！〃 murmured Funkelstein。 He then spoke aloud some words
unintelligible to the rest。
Whether from the peculiarity of his position and the consequent
excitement of his imagination； or from some other cause； Hugh grew
quite cold； and began to tremble。 The plate； which had been
careering violently for a few moments； now went more slowly； making
regular short motions and returns； at right angles to its chief
direction； as if letters were being formed by the pencil。 Hugh
shuddered； thinking he recognised the letters as they grew。 The
writing ceased。 The candles were brought。 Yes； there it was！not
plain； but easily decipherableDavid Elginbrod。 Hugh felt sick。
Euphra； looking on beside him； whispered：
〃What an odd name！ Who can it mean？〃
He made no reply
Neither of the other ladies saw it； for Mrs。 Elton had discovered；
the moment the second candle was lighted； that Lady Emily was either
asleep or in a faint。 She was soon all but satisfied that she was
asleep。
Hugh's opinion； gathered from what followed； was； that the Bohemian
had not been so intent on the operations with the plate； as he had
appeared to be； and that he had been employing part of his energy in
mesmerising Lady Emily。 Mrs。 Elton； remembering that she had had
quite a long walk that morning； was not much alarmed。 Unwilling to
make a disturbance； she rang the bell very quietly； and； going to
the door； asked the servant who answered it； to send her maid with
some eau…de…cologne。 Meantime； the gentlemen had been too much
absorbed to take any notice of her proceedings； and； after removing
the one and extinguishing the other candle； had reverted to the
plate。Hugh was still the operator。
Von Funkelstein spoke again in an unknown tongue。 The plate began
to move as before。 After only a second or two of preparatory
gyration； Hugh felt that it was writing Turriepuffit； and shook from
head to foot。
Suddenly； in the middle of the word； the plate ceased its motion；
and lay perfectly still。 Hugh felt a kind of surprise come upon
him； as if he waked from an unpleasant dream； and saw the sun
shining。 The morbid excitement of his nervous system had suddenly
ceased； and a healthful sense of strength and every…day life took
its place。
Simultaneously with the stopping of the plate； and this new feeling
which I have tried to describe； Hugh involuntarily raised his eyes
towards the door of the room。 In the all…but…darkness between him
and the door； he saw a pale beautiful facea face only。 It was the
face of Margaret Elginbrod； not； however； such as he had used to see
itbut glorified。 That was the only word by which he could
describe its new aspect。 A mist of darkness fell upon his brain；
and the room swam round with him。 But he was saved from falling； or
attracting attention to a weakness for which he could have made no
excuse； by a sudden cry from Lady Emily。
〃See！ see！〃 she cried wildly； pointing towards one of the windows。
These looked across to another part of the house； one of the oldest；
at some distance。One of its windows； apparently on the first
floor； shone with a faint bluish light。
All the company had hurried to the window at Lady Emily's
exclamation。
〃Who can be in that part of the house？〃 said Mr。 Arnold； angrily。
〃It is Lady Euphrasia's window；〃 said Euphra； in a low voice； the
tone of which suggested； somehow； that the speaker was very cold。
〃What do you mean by speaking like that？〃 said Mr。 Arnold；
forgetting his dignity。 〃Surely you are above being superstitious。
Is it possible the servants could be about any mischief？ I will
discharge any one at once； that dares go there without permission。〃
The light disappeared； fading slowly out。
〃Indeed； the servants are all too much alarmed； after what took
place last year； to go near that wingmuch less that room；〃 said
Euphra。 〃Besides； Mrs。 Horton has all the keys in her own charge。〃
〃Go yourself and get me them； Euphra。 I will see at once what this
means。 Don't say why you want them。〃
〃Certainly not； uncle。〃
Hugh had recovered almost instantaneously。 Though full of
amazement； he had yet his perceptive faculties sufficiently
unimpaired to recognise the real source of the light in the window。
It seemed to him more like moonlight than anything else； and he
thought the others would have seen it to be such； but for the effect
of Lady Emily's sudden exclamation。 Perhaps she was under the
influence of the Bohemian at the moment。 Certainly they were all in
a tolerable condition for seeing whatever might be required of them。
True； there was no moon to be seen； and if it was the moon； why did
the light go out？ But he found afterwards that he had been right。
The house stood upon a rising ground； and； every recurring cycle；
the moon would shine； through a certain vista of trees and branches；
upon Lady Euphrasia's window； provided there had been no growth of
twigs to stop up the channel of the light； which was so narrow that
in a few moments the moon had crossed it。 A gap in a hedge made by
a bull that morning； had removed the last screen。Lady Euphrasia's
window was so neglected and dusty； that it could reflect nothing
more than a dim bluish shimmer。
〃Will you all accompany me； ladies and gentlemen； that you may see
with your own eyes that there is nothing dangerous in the house？〃
said Mr。 Arnold。
Of course Funkelstein was quite ready； and Hugh as well； although he
felt at this moment ill…fitted for ghost…hunting。 The ladies
hesitated； but at last； more afraid of being left behind alone； than
of going with the gentlemen； they consented。 Euphra brought the
keys； and they commenced their march of investigation。 Up the grand
staircase they went； Mr。 Arnold first with the keys； Hugh next with
Mrs。 Elton and Lady Emily； and the Bohemian； considerably to Hugh's
dissatisfaction； bringing up the rear with Euphra。This
misarrangement did more than anything else could have done； to
deaden for the time the distraction of feeling produced in Hugh's
mind by the events of the last few minutes。 Yet even now he seemed
to be wandering through the old house in a dream； instead of
following Mr。 Arnold； whose presence might well have been sufficient
to destroy any illusion； except such as a Chinese screen might
superinduce； for； possessed of far less imagination than a horse； he
was incapable of any terrors； but such as had to do with robbers； or
fire； or chartistswhich latter fear included both the former。 He
strode on securely； carrying a candle in one hand； and the keys in
the other。 Each of the other gentlemen likewise bore a light。 They
had to go through doors； some locked； some open； following a
different route from that taken by Euphra on a former occasion。
But Mr。 Arnold found the keys troublesome。 He could not easily
distinguish those he wanted； and was compelled to apply to Euphra。
She left Funkelstein in consequence； and walked in front with her
uncle。 Her former companion got beside Lady Emily； and as they
could not well walk four abreast； she fell behind with him。 So Hugh
got next to Euphra； behind her； and was comforted。
At length； by tortuous ways； across old rooms； and up and down
abrupt little stairs； they reached the door of Lady Euphrasia's
room。 The key was found； and the door opened with some
perturbationmanifest on the part of the ladies； and concealed on
the part of the men。 The place was quite dark。 They entered； and
Hu