"Darling Flora, of course I promise. By the way, you never speak of your
family ghost, although Mrs. Brodie always refers to it as if I knew all
about it; and the Colonel has often told me of Sir Rupert's military
achievements."

"Oh, Aleister, I don't know whether you believe in ghosts: it _is_ very
extraordinary. Whenever any disaster, or any good fortune happens to our
family, Sir Rupert Brodie's figure, just as he appears in the Vandyck, is
seen walking in the Long Gallery; and every night he appears at twelve
o'clock in the green spare bedroom; but only guests and servants ever see
him there. We have a saying at Hootawa, that servants will not stay
unless they are able to see Sir Rupert the first month after their
arrival. Only members of the family are able to see him in the Long
Gallery, and, of course, we never know whether he betokens good or ill
luck. The last time he appeared there, papa was so nervous that he sold
out of Consols, which went down an eighth the day after. We were all
very much relieved. But he invested the money in some concern called
"The Imperial Federation Stylograph Pen Company," and lost most of it; so
it was not of much use."

"Tell me, darling, of your father's other investments," I asked
anxiously.

"Oh, you must ask papa about them, I don't understand business; but I
want to tell you about Sir Rupert. The Society for Psychical Research
sent down a Committee to inquire into the credibility of the ghost, and
recorded four authentic apparitions in the spare bedroom; and on family
evidence accepted at least three events in the Long Gallery. It was just
after their report was issued that papa was invited to lease the house to