Oswald went into the outward room. "I am going," said he, "to shut up
the apartment. The young gentlemen have been more frightened than they
had occasion for; I will try to account for it. Which of you will go
with me?"

They all drew back, except Joseph, who offered to bear him company. They
went into the bedroom in the haunted apartment, and found every thing
quiet there. They put out the fire, extinguished the lights, locked
the door, and brought away the key. As they returned, "I thought how it
would be," said Joseph.

"Hush! not a word," said Oswald; "you find we are suspected of
something, though they know not what. Wait till you are called upon, and
then we will both speak to purpose." They carried the key to the Baron.

"All is quiet in the apartment," said Oswald, "as we can testify."

"Did you ask Joseph to go with you," said the Baron, "or did he offer
himself?"

"My Lord, I asked if any body would go with me, and they all declined it
but he; I thought proper to have a witness beside myself, for whatever
might be seen or heard."

"Joseph, you were servant to the late Lord Lovel; what kind of man was
he?"

"A very comely man, please your lordship."

"Should you know him if you were to see him?"

"I cannot say, my lord."

"Would you have any objection to sleep a night in that apartment?"

"I beg,"--"I hope,"--"I beseech your lordship not to command me to
do it!"

"You are then afraid; why did you offer yourself to go thither?"

"Because I was not so much frightened as the rest."

"I wish you would lie a night there; but I do not insist upon it."

"My lord, I am a poor ignorant old man, not fit for such an undertaking;
beside, if I should see the ghost, and if it should be the person of my
master, and if it should tell me any thing, and bid me keep it secret, I
should not dare to disclose it; and then, what service should I do your
lordship?"

"That is true, indeed," said the Baron.

"This speech," said Sir Robert, "is both a simple and an artful one. You
see, however, that Joseph is not a man for us to depend upon; he regards
the Lord Lovel, though dead, more than Lord Fitz-Owen, living; he calls
him his master, and promises to keep his secrets. What say you, father,
Is the ghost your master, or your friend? Are you under any obligation
to keep his secrets?"

"Sir," said Oswald, "I answer as Joseph does; I would sooner die than
discover a secret revealed in that manner."

"I thought