was nothing in my study to tempt a thief; the study was shut out from the
body of the house, and the servant sure at nightfall both to close the
window and lock the gate; yet now, for the first time, I felt an impulse,
urgent, keen, and disquieting, to ride back to the town, and see those
precautions taken. I could not guess why, but something whispered to me
that my neglect had exposed me to some great danger. I even checked my
horse and looked at my watch; too late!--already just on the stroke of
Strahan's dinner-hour as fixed in his note; my horse, too, was fatigued
and spent: besides, what folly! what bearded man can believe in the
warnings of a "presentiment"? I pushed on, and soon halted before the
old-fashioned flight of stairs that led up to the Hall. Here I was
accosted by the old steward; he had just descended the stairs, and as I
dismounted he thrust his arm into mine unceremoniously, and drew me a
little aside.

"Doctor, I was right; it was his ghost that I saw by the iron door of the
mausoleum. I saw it again at the same place last night, but I had no fit
then. Justice on his murderer! Blood for blood!"

"Ay!" said I, sternly; for if I suspected Margrave before, I felt
convinced now that the inexpiable deed was his. Wherefore convinced?
Simply because I now hated him more, and hate is so easily convinced!
"Lilian! Lilian!" I murmured to myself that name; the flame of my hate
was fed by my jealousy. "Ay!" said I, sternly, "murder will out."

"What are the police about?" said the old man, querulously; "days pass on
days, and no nearer the truth. But what does the new owner care? He has
the rents and acres; what does he care for the dead? I will never serve
another master. I have just told Mr. Strahan so. How do I know whether
he did not do the deed? Who else had an interest in it?"