the spirit
appeared with the waving plume of flame on his splendid _beretta_ or cap,
when suddenly he was checked and could go no farther, because the hall
had been blessed, yes, and thoroughly. Then the spectre began to bellow
and roar, and utter whistling screams and all horrible sounds, worse than
a wild beast.

"But the new master of the house did not let fear overcome him in the
least, and the next day he renewed the sprinkling and blessing, and
finding there was a chapel in the palace, he called in a priest, who
there read a mass for the soul of the ghost, so that he might rest in
peace.

"Now there was a beautiful little garden attached to the palace, and the
children of the new tenant were delighted to play in it.

"And in the middle of the garden they found a cross with a Christ on it,
and the cross had been shattered. But the children took the pieces and
carried them one by one into the chamber where no one dared to sleep, and
there they put them piously together, and dressed a little altar before
it, and began to sing hymns.

"But while they were thus singing in their simple devotion, wishing to
aid their father, there was a knock at the door, and a lady entered whose
face was concealed in a veil, but who seemed to be weeping as she beheld
them, and she said, 'Children, keep ever as you are; always be good and
love God, and He will love you!'

"Then she continued, 'The master of this house was a gambler and a
blasphemer; when he lost money at gambling he would return home and beat
this image of Christ, till one night, being in a mad rage, he broke it
and threw it into the garden.'

"'But soon after that he fell ill, and knowing that he was dying, he
buried all his treasure in the garden. Love God, and you shall find it.
So he died, blaspheming and condemned. Love God, and He will love you!'
And saying this, she vanished.

"The children, all astonished, ran to their father and mother, and told
them that a beautiful lady had visited them, and what she had said.

"Then they said to the children, 'You must indeed be always good, for
that Lady who spoke to you was the Holy Virgin, who will always protect
you.' And then the father called in a priest to say midnight mass at the
time when the spirit would appear. And he came, and said, 'I am he who
broke the cross, and for that I was damned!' Then the priest began to
sprinkle holy water, with exorcisms, when all at once the accursed one
disappeared i