There was a slight shock of earthquake, and all the skeletons in
sight arose to their feet, stretched themselves and yawned audibly.
Without moving from his seat, the old gentleman rapped the nearest
one across the skull with his gold-headed cane, and they all curled
away to sleep again.

"Sire," I resumed, "indulge me in the impertinence of inquiring your
business here at this hour."

"My business is none of yours," retorted he, calmly; "what are you
up to yourself?"

"I have been picking up some bones," I replied, carelessly.

"Then you are--"

I am--"

"A Ghoul!"

"My good friend, you do me injustice. You have doubtless read very
frequently in the newspapers of the Fiend in Human Shape whose
actions and way of life are so generally denounced. Sire, you see
before you that maligned party!"

There was a quick jerk under the soles of my feet, which pitched me
prone upon the ground. Scrambling up, I saw the old gentleman
vanishing behind an adjacent sandhill as if the devil were after
him. The Mistake of a Life.