ge there."

"And very handy," said John, "for there's a wedding-cake shop at the
corner."

The King sighed again.

"Unhappily, none survive. One hundred and fifty-five have undertaken
the adventure, and not a man of them but has either lost his wits or run
for it."

"Well," said John, "I've been afraid of a great many men--"

"That's a poor confession for a soldier," put in the King.

"--when they all happened to come at me together. But I've never yet
met the ghost that could frighten me; and if your Majesty will give me
the latch-key I'll try my luck this very night."

It could not be done in this free-and-easy way; but at eight o'clock,
after John had visited the Palace and taken an oath in the Princess's
presence (which was his first sight of her), he was driven down to the
house beside the Lord Chamberlain, who admitted him to the black front
hall, and, slamming the door upon him, scuttled out of the porch as
quickly as possible and into his brougham.

John struck a match, and as he did so heard the carriage roll away.
The walls were bare, and the floor and great staircase ahead of him
carpetless. As the match flickered out he caught a glimpse of a pair of
feet moving up the stairs; that was all--only feet.

"I'll catch up with the calves on the landing, maybe," said he; and,
striking another match, he followed them up.

The feet turned aside on the landing and led him into a room on the
right. He paused on the threshold, drew a candle from his pocket, lit
it, and stared about him. The room was of great size, bare and dusty,
with crimson hangings, gilt panels, and one huge gilt chandelier, from
which and from the ceiling and cornice long cobwebs trailed down like
creeping plants. Beneath the chandelier a dark smear ran along the
boards. The feet crossed it towards the fireplace; and as they did so,
John saw them stained with blood. They reached the fire-place and
vanished.

Scarcely had this happened, before the end of the room opposite the
window began to glow with an unearthly light. John, whose poverty had
taught him to be economical, promptly blew out his candle. A moment
later two men entered, bearing a coffin between them. They rested it
upon the floor and, seating themselves upon it, began to cast dice.
"Your soul!" "My soul!" they kept saying in hollow tones, according as
they won or lost. At length one of them--a tall man in a powdered wig,
with a face extraordinarily pale--flung