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glance which Euphra succeeded at last； as she left the room； in
sending through his eyes to his heart。
Hugh sat down to the table again； with a quieter tongue； but a
busier brain。 He drank still； without thinking of the consequences。
A strong will kept him from showing any signs of intoxication； but
he was certainly nearer to that state than he had ever been in his
life before。
The Bohemian started the new subject which generally follows the
ladies' departure。
〃How long is it since Arnstead was first said to be haunted； Mr。
Arnold？〃
〃Haunted！ Herr von Funkelstein？ I am at a loss to understand you；〃
replied Mr。 Arnold； who resented any such allusion； being subversive
of the honour of his house； almost as much as if it had been
depreciative of his own。
〃I beg your pardon； Mr。 Arnold。 I thought it was an open subject of
remark。〃
〃So it is；〃 said Hugh； 〃every one knows that。〃
Mr。 Arnold was struck dumb with indignation。 Before he had
recovered himself sufficiently to know what to say； the conversation
between the other two had assumed a form to which his late
experiences inclined him to listen with some degree of interest。
But； his pride sternly forbidding him to join in it； he sat sipping
his wine in careless sublimity。
〃You have seen it yourself； then？〃 said the Bohemian。
〃I did not say that；〃 answered Hugh。 〃But I heard one of the maids
say oncewhen〃
He paused。
This hesitation of his witnessed against him afterwards； in Mr。
Arnold's judgment。 But he took no notice now。Hugh ended tamely
enough：
〃Why； it is commonly reported amongst the servants。〃
〃With a blue light？Such as we saw that night from the library
window； I suppose。〃
〃I did not say that；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Besides； it was nothing of the
sort you saw from the library。 It was only the moon。 But〃
He paused again。 Von Funkelstein saw the condition he was in； and
pressed him。
〃You know something more； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
Hugh hesitated again； but only for a moment。
〃Well； then；〃 he said； 〃I have seen the spectre myself； walking in
her white grave…clothes； in the Ghost's Avenueha！ ha！〃
Funkelstein looked anxious。
〃Were you frightened？〃 said he。
〃Frightened！〃 repeated Hugh； in a tone of the greatest contempt。 〃I
am of Don Juan's opinion with regard to such gentry。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃'That soul and body； on the whole；
Are odds against a disembodied soul。'〃
〃Bravo！〃 cried the count。 〃You despise all these tales about Lady
Euphrasia； wandering about the house with a death…candle in her
hand； looking everywhere about as if she had lost something； and
couldn't find it？〃
〃Pooh！ pooh！ I wish I could meet her！〃
〃Then you don't believe a word of it？〃
〃I don't say that。 There would be less of courage than boasting in
talking so； if I did not believe a word of it。〃
〃Then you do believe it？〃
But Hugh was too much of a Scotchman to give a hasty opinion； or
rather a direct answereven when half…tipsy； especially when such
was evidently desired。 He only shook and nodded his head at the
same moment。
〃Do you really mean you would meet her if you could？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Then； if all tales are true； you may； without much difficulty。 For
the coachman told me only to…day； that you may see her light in the
window of that room almost any night； towards midnight。 He told me；
too （for I made quite a friend of him to…day； on purpose to hear his
tales）； that one of the maids； who left the other day； told the
groomand he told the coachmanthat she had once heard talking；
and； peeping through the key…hole of a door that led into that part
of the old house； saw a figure； dressed exactly like the picture of
Lady Euphrasia； wandering up and down； wringing her hands and
beating her breast； as if she were in terrible trouble。 She had a
light in her hand which burned awfully blue； and her face was the
face of a corpse； with pale…green spots。〃
〃You think to frighten me； Funkelstein； and make me tremble at what
I said a minute ago。 Instead of repeating that。 I say now： I will
sleep in Lady Euphrasia's room this night； if you like。〃
〃I lay you a hundred guineas you won't！〃 cried the Bohemian。
〃Done！〃 said Hugh； offering him his hand。 Funkelstein took it； and
so the bet was committed to the decision of courage。
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 interposed Mr。 Arnold at last； 〃you might have
left a corner for me somewhere。 Without my permission you will
hardly settle your wager。〃
〃I beg your pardon； Mr。 Arnold；〃 said Funkelstein。 〃We got rather
excited over it； and forgot our manners。 But I am quite willing to
give it up； if Mr。 Sutherland will。〃
〃Not I；〃 said Hugh；〃that is； of course； if Mr。 Arnold has no
objection。〃
〃Of course not。 My house； ghost and all； is at your service；
gentlemen；〃 responded Mr。 Arnold； rising。
They went to the drawing…room。 Mr。 Arnold； strange to say； was in a
good humour。 He walked up to Mrs。 Elton； and said：
〃These wicked men have been betting； Mrs。 Elton。〃
〃I am surprised they should be so silly；〃 said she； with a smile；
taking it as a joke。
〃What have they been betting about？〃 said Euphra； coming up to her
uncle。
〃Herr von Funkelstein has laid a hundred guineas that Mr。 Sutherland
will not sleep in Lady Euphrasia's room to…night。〃
Euphra turned pale。
〃By sleep I suppose you mean spend the night？〃 said Hugh to
Funkelstein。 〃I cannot be certain of sleeping； you know。〃
〃Of course； I mean that；〃 answered the other； and； turning to
Euphrasia； continued：
〃I must say I consider it rather courageous of him to dare the
spectre as he does； for he cannot say he disbelieves in her。 But
come and sing me one of the old songs；〃 he added； in an under tone。
Euphra allowed him to lead her to the piano； but instead of singing
a song to him； she played some noisy music； through which he and she
contrived to talk for some time； without being overheard； after
which he left the room。 Euphra then looked round to Hugh； and
begged him with her eyes to come to her。 He could not resist；
burning with jealousy as he was。
〃Are you sure you have nerve enough for this； Hugh？〃 she said； still
playing。
〃I have had nerve enough to sit still and look at you for the last
half hour；〃 answered Hugh； rudely。
She turned pale； and glanced up at him with a troubled look。 Then；
without responding to his answer； said：
〃I daresay the count is not over…anxious to hold you to your bet。〃
〃Pray intercede for me with the count； madam；〃 answered Hugh；
sarcastically。 〃He would not wish the young fool to be frightened； I
daresay。 But perhaps he wishes to have an interview with the ghost
himself； and grudges me the privilege。〃
She turned deadly pale this time； and gave him one terrified glance；
but made no other reply to his words。 Still she played on。
〃You will arm yourself？〃
〃Against a ghost？ Yes； with a stout heart。〃
〃But don't forget the secret door through which we came that night；
Hugh。 I distrust the count。〃
The last words were spoken in a whisper； emphasized into almost a
hiss。
〃Tell him I shall be armed。 I tell you I shall meet him
bare…handed。 Betray me if you like。〃
Hugh had taken his revenge； and now came the reaction。 He gazed at
Euphra； but instead of the injured look； which was the best he could
hope to see； an expression of 〃pity and ruth〃 grew slowly in her
face； making it more lovely than ever in his eyes。 At last she
seemed on the point of bursting into tears； and； suddenly changing
the music； she began playing a dead…march。 She kept her eyes on the
keys。 Once more； only； she glanced round； to see whether Hugh was
still by her side； and he saw that her face was pale as death； and
wet with silent tears。 He had never seen her weep before。 He would
have fallen at her feet； had he been alone with her。 To hide his
feelings； he left the room； and then the house。
He wandered into the Ghost's Walk； and； finding himself there；
walked up and down in it。 This was certainly throwing the lady a
bold challenge； seeing he was going to spend the night in her room。
The excitement into which jealousy had thrown him； had been suddenly
checked by the sight of Euphra's tears。 The reaction； too； after
his partial intoxication； had already begun to set in； to be
accounted for partly by the fact that its source had been chiefly
champagne； and partly by the other fact； that he had bound himself
in honour； to dare a spectre in her own favourite haunt。
On the other hand； the sight of Euphra's emotion had given him a far
better courage than jealousy or wine could afford。 Yet； after ten
minutes passed in the shadows of the Ghost's Walk； he would not have
taken the bet at ten times its amount。
But to lose it now would have been a serious affair for him； the
disgrace of failure unconsidered。 If he could have lost a hundred
guineas； it would have been comparatively a slight matter； but to
lose a bet； and be utterly unable to pay it； would be
disgracefulno better than positive cheating。 He had not thought
of this at the time。 Nor； even now； was it more than a passing
thought； for he had not the smallest desire to recede。 The ambition
of proving hi