of ear-shot of his uncle, Henry spoke.

"Look here, Tom," he said, "you've given me a tip. I'm going to
camp out in the Grey Room to-night. Then, in the morning, I'll
tell Uncle Walter I have done so, and the ghost's number will be
up."

"Quite all right, old man--only the plan must be modified. I'll
sleep there. I'm death on it, and the brilliant inspiration was
mine, remember."

"You can't. He refused to let you."

"I didn't hear him."

"Oh, yes, you did--everybody did. Besides, this is fairly my task--
you won't deny that. Chadlands will be mine, some day, so it's
up to me to knock this musty yarn on the head once and for all.
Could anything be more absurd than shutting up a fine room like
that? I'm really rather ashamed of Uncle Walter."

"Of course it's absurd but, honestly, I'm rather keen about this.
I'd dearly love to add a medieval phantom to my experiences, and
only wish I thought anything would show up. I beg you'll raise no
objection. It was my idea, and I very much wish to make the
experiment. Of course, I don't believe in anything supernatural."

They went back to the billiard-room, dismissed Fred Caunter, the
footman, who was waiting to put out the lights, and continued their
discussion. The argument began to grow strenuous, for each proved