his was a task
he had already performed ten or more years before. Then the ill-omened
chamber had revealed a dead woman. Who was in it now? Caunter guessed
readily enough.

Lennox spoke to his uncle as they approached the locked door.

"It was only a lark, just to clear the room of its bad character
and have a laugh at your expense this morning. But I'm afraid he's
ill--fainted or something. He turned in about one o'clock. I was rather
bothered, and couldn't explain to myself why, but--"

"Don't chatter!" answered the other. "You have both done a very wrong
thing and should have respected my wishes."

At the door he called loudly.

"Let us in at once, Tom, please! I am much annoyed! If this is a jest,
it has gone far enough--and too far! I blame you severely!"

But none replied. Absolute silence held the Grey Room.

Then came the footman with a frail of tools. The task could not be
performed in a moment, and Sir Walter, desirous above all things to
create no uneasiness at the breakfast-table, determined to go down
again. But he was too late, for his daughter had already suspected
something. She was not anxious but puzzled that her husband tarried. She
came up the stairs with a letter.

"I'm going to find Tom," she said. "It's not like him to be so lazy.
Here's a letter from the ship, and I'm awfully afraid he may have to go
back."

"Mary," said her father, "come here a moment."

He drew her under a great window which threw light into the corridor.

"You must summon your nerve and pluck, my girl! I'm very much afraid
that something has gone amiss with Tom. I know nothing yet, but last
night, it seems, after we had gone to bed, he and Henry determined that
one of them should sleep in the Grey Room."

"Father! Was he there, and I so near him--sleeping in the very next
room?"

"He was there--and is there. He is not well. Henry saw him looking out
of the window five minutes ago, but he was, I fear, unconscious."

"Let me go to him," she said.

"I will do so first. It will be wiser. Run down and ask Ernest to join
me. Do not be alarmed; I dare say it is nothing at all."

Her habit of obedience prompted her to do as he desired instantly, but
she descended like lightning, called Travers, and returned with him.

"I will ask you to come in with me, Ernest," explained Sir Walter. "My
son-in-law slept in the Grey Room last night, and he does not respond to
our calls this morning. The door is locked and we are b