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went to bed； and slept as if there were never a ghost or a woman in
the universe。
His first proceeding； after breakfast next day； was to get together
his German books； and his next to take out the ring； which was to be
subjected to their analytical influences。 He went to his desk； and
opened the secret place。 There he stood fixed。The ring was gone。
His packet of papers was there； rather crumpled： the ring was
nowhere。 What had become of it？ It was not long before a
conclusion suggested itself。 It flashed upon him all at once。
〃The ghost has got it；〃 he said； half aloud。 〃It is shining now on
her dead finger。 It was Lady Euphrasia。 She was going for it then。
It wasn't on her thumb when she went。 She came back with it；
shining through the darkstepped over me； perhaps； as I lay on the
floor in her way。〃
He shivered； like one in an ague…fit。
Again and again； with that frenzied； mechanical motion； which； like
the eyes of a ghost； has 〃no speculation〃 in it； he searched the
receptacle； although it freely confessed its emptiness to any asking
eye。 Then he stood gazing； and his heart seemed to stand still
likewise。
But a new thought stung him； turning him almost sick with a sense of
loss。 Suddenly and frantically he dived his hand into the place yet
again； useless as he knew the search to be。 He took up his papers；
and scattered them loose。 It was all unavailing： his father's ring
was gone as well。
He sank on a chair for a moment； but； instantly recovering； found
himself； before he was quite aware of his own resolution； halfway
down stairs； on his way to Mr。 Arnold's room。 It was empty。 He
rang for his servant。 Mr。 Arnold had gone away on horseback； and
would not be home till dinner…time。 Counsel from Mrs。 Elton was
hopeless。 Help from Euphra he could not ask。 He returned to his
own room。 There he found Harry waiting for him。 His neglected
pupil was now his only comforter。 Such are the revenges of divine
goodness。
〃Harry！〃 he said； 〃I have been robbed。〃
〃Robbed！〃 cried Harry； starting up。 〃Never mind； Mr。 Sutherland； my
papa's a justice of the peace。 He'll catch the thief for you。〃
〃But it's your papa's ring that they've stolen。 He lent it to me；
and what if he should not believe me？〃
〃Not believe you； Mr。 Sutherland？ But he must believe you。 I will
tell him all about it； and he knows I never told him a lie in my
life。〃
〃But you don't know anything about it； Harry。〃
〃But you will tell me； won't you？〃
Hugh could not help smiling with pleasure at the confidence his
pupil placed in him。 He had not much fear about being believed；
but； at the best； it was an unpleasant occurrence。
The loss of his own ring not only added to his vexation； but to his
perplexity as well。 What could she want with his ring？ Could she
have carried with her such a passion for jewels； as to come from the
grave to appropriate those of others as well as to reclaim her own？
Was this her comfort in Hades； 'poor ghost'？
Would it be better to tell Mr。 Arnold of the loss of both rings； or
should he mention the crystal only？ He came to the conclusion that
it would only exasperate him the more； and perhaps turn suspicion
upon himself； if he communicated the fact that he too was a loser；
and to such an extent； for Hugh's ring was worth twenty of the
other； and was certainly as sacred as Mr。 Arnold's； if not so
ancient。 He would bear it in silence。 If the one could not be
found； there could certainly be no hope of the other。
Punctual as the clock； Mr。 Arnold returned。 It did not prejudice
him in favour of the reporter of bad tidings； that he begged a word
with him before dinner； when that was on the point of being served。
It was； indeed； exceeding impolitic； but Hugh would have felt like
an impostor； had he sat down to the table before making his
confession。
〃Mr。 Arnold； I am sorry to say I have been robbed； and in your
house； too。〃
〃In my house？ Of what； pray； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
Mr。 Arnold had taken the information as some weak men take any kind
of information referring to themselves or their belongingsnamely；
as an insult。 He drew himself up； and lowered portentously。
〃Of your ring； Mr。 Arnold。〃
〃Ofmyring？〃
And he looked at his ring…finger； as if he could not understand the
import of Hugh's words。
〃Of the ring you lent me to decipher；〃 explained Hugh。
〃Do you suppose I do not understand you； Mr。 Sutherland？ A ring
which has been in the family for two hundred years at least！ Robbed
of it？ In my house？ You must have been disgracefully careless； Mr。
Sutherland。 You have lost it。〃
〃Mr。 Arnold；〃 said Hugh； with dignity； 〃I am above using such a
subterfuge； even if it were not certain to throw suspicion where it
was undeserved。〃
Mr。 Arnold was a gentleman； as far as his self…importance allowed。
He did not apologize for what he had said； but he changed his
manner at once。
〃I am quite bewildered； Mr。 Sutherland。 It is a very annoying piece
of newsfor many reasons。〃
〃I can show you where I laid itin the safest corner in my room； I
assure you。〃
〃Of course； of course。 It is enough you say so。 We must not keep
the dinner waiting now。 But after dinner I shall have all the
servants up； and investigate the matter thoroughly。〃
〃So；〃 thought Hugh with himself； 〃some one will be made a felon of；
because the cursed dead go stalking about this infernal house at
midnight； gathering their own old baubles。 No； that will not do。 I
must at least tell Mr。 Arnold what I know of the doings of the
night。〃
So Mr。 Arnold must still wait for his dinner； or rather； which was
really of more consequence in the eyes of Mr。 Arnold； the dinner
must be kept waiting for him。 For order and custom were two of Mr。
Arnold's divinities； and the economy of his whole nature was apt to
be disturbed by any interruption of their laws； such as the
postponement of dinner for ten minutes。 He was walking towards the
door； and turned with some additional annoyance when Hugh addressed
him again：
〃One moment； Mr。 Arnold； if you please。〃
Mr。 Arnold merely turned and waited。
〃I fear I shall in some degree forfeit your good opinion by what I
am about to say； but I must run the risk。〃
Mr。 Arnold still waited。
〃There is more about the disappearance of the ring than I can
understand。〃
〃Or I either； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
〃But I must tell you what happened to myself； the night that I kept
watch in Lady Euphrasia's room。〃
〃You said you slept soundly。〃
〃So I did； part of the time。〃
〃Then you kept back part of the truth？〃
〃I did。〃
〃Was that worthy of you？〃
〃I thought it best： I doubted myself。〃
〃What has caused you to change your mind now？〃
〃This event about the ring。〃
〃What has that to do with it？ How do you even know that it was
taken on that night？〃
〃I do not know； for till this morning I had not opened the place
where it lay： I only suspect。〃
〃I am a magistrate； Mr。 Sutherland： I would rather not be prejudiced
by suspicions。〃
〃The person to whom my suspicions refer； is beyond your
jurisdiction； Mr。 Arnold。〃
〃I do not understand you。〃
〃I will explain myself。〃
Hugh gave Mr。 Arnold a hurried yet circumstantial sketch of the
apparition he believed he had seen。
〃What am I to judge from all this？〃 asked he； coldly； almost
contemptuously。
〃I have told you the facts； of course I must leave the conclusions
to yourself； Mr。 Arnold； but I confess； for my part； that any
disbelief I had in apparitions is almost entirely removed since〃
〃Since you dreamed you saw one？〃
〃Since the disappearance of the ring；〃 said Hugh。
〃Bah！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Arnold； with indignation。 〃Can a ghost fetch
and carry like a spaniel？ Mr。 Sutherland； I am ashamed to have such
a reasoner for tutor to my son。 Come to dinner； and do not let me
hear another word of this folly。 I beg you will not mention it to
any one。〃
〃I have been silent hitherto； Mr。 Arnold； but circumstances； such as
the commitment of any one on the charge of stealing the ring； might
compel me to mention the matter。 It would be for the jury to
determine whether it was relevant or not。〃
It was evident that Mr。 Arnold was more annoyed at the imputation
against the nocturnal habits of his house； than at the loss of the
ring； or even its possible theft by one of his servants。 He looked
at Hugh for a moment as if he would break into a furious rage； then
his look gradually changed into one of suspicion； and； turning
without another word； he led the way to the dining…room； followed by
Hugh。 To have a ghost held in his face in this fashion； one bred in
his own house； too； when he had positively declared his absolute
contempt for every legend of the sort； was more than man could bear。
He sat down to dinner in gloomy silence； breaking it only as often
as he was compelled to do the duties of a host； which he performed
with a greater loftiness of ceremony than usual。
There was no summoning of the servants after dinner； however。
Hugh's warning had been effectual。 Nor was the subject once more
alluded to in Hugh's hearing。 No doubt Mr。 Arnold felt that
something ought to be done； but I presume he could nev