The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ghost, by Arnold Bennett

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Title: The Ghost
A Modern Fantasy

Author: Arnold Bennett

Release Date: November 28, 2005 [EBook #17176]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE GHOST

A Modern Fantasy

BY

ARNOLD BENNETT

AUTHOR OF "THE OLD WIVES' TALES," "CLAYHANGER,"
ETC., ETC.

BOSTON
SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY
1911

Copyright, 1907
By HERBERT B. TURNER & CO.

Copyright, 1911

BY SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY (INCORPORATED)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. MY SPLENDID COUSIN

II. AT THE OPERA

III. THE CRY OF ALRESCA

IV. ROSA'S SUMMONS

V. THE DAGGER AND THE MAN

VI. ALRESCA'S FATE

VII. THE VIGIL BY THE BIER

VIII. THE MESSAGE

IX. THE TRAIN

X. THE STEAMER

XI. A CHAT WITH ROSA

XII. EGG-AND-MILK

XIII. THE PORTRAIT

XIV. THE VILLA

XV. THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER

XVI. THE THING IN THE CHAIR

XVII. THE MENACE

XVIII. THE STRUGGLE

XIX. THE INTERCESSION

THE GHOST

CHAPTER I

MY SPLENDID COUSIN

I am eight years older now. It had never occurred to me that I am
advancing in life and experience until, in setting myself to recall
the various details of the affair, I suddenly remembered my timid
confusion before the haughty mien of the clerk at Keith Prowse's.

I had asked him:

"Have you any amphitheatre seats for the Opera to-night?"

He did not reply. He merely put his lips together and waved his hand
slowly from side to side.

Not perceiving, in my simplicity, that he was thus expressing a
sublime pity for the ignorance which my demand implied, I innocently
proceeded:

"Nor balcony?"

This time he condescended to speak.

"Noth--