he, "the blue devils
have me sure."

"Devils, Master Tom sir," said the Sergeant, seating himself on the
bench his own hands had contrived, "I aren't nowise surprised, same do
haunt the place o' late, this here orchard being 'witched d'ye see and
full o' hocus-pocus."

"'Tis hard to believe, Zeb, what with the sky so blue and the grass all
dappled with sunlight. Nay 'tis a fair world, Zeb, and hard to leave.
Life's a desirable thing and hard to lose! Save us! What a world
'twould be if all women were sweet as they seemed and men as true!"

"Sure there's a deal o' roguery i' the world Master Pancras--Tom, sir!
As witness--last night!"

The Viscount winced, muttered between clenched teeth and scowled at his
fist again:

"Is the Major come home yet?" he enquired.

"Yes, sir. Come in along with Lord Cleeve, same as served under his
honour years agone."

"How were they, Zeb?"

"His honour oncommon solemn and my lord oncommon talkative--wouldn't
nowise part wi' his boots, threatened to shoot the first man as dared
touch same. Last night must ha' been--a night, sir!"

"Aye!" nodded the Viscount absently. "You told me last night you
actually caught the fellow one night--in the orchard here?"

"Fellow, my lud?"

"Mr. Dalroyd."

"I so did, sir--same being in the act o' scaling wall--taking my lady's
garden by escalade as ye might say."

"'Twas Dalroyd, you're--quite sure, Zeb?"

"If 'twasn't--'twere a ghost sir."

"What d'ye mean?"

"The ghost of an officer of Ogle's as his honour killed in Flanders in
a duel, Master Tom."

"Ah!" said the Viscount thoughtfully. "A duel!"

"Aye, sir, only this man's name were Effingham."

"A duel!" repeated the Viscount. "'Twas over a woman of course?"

"Aye sir, and an evil tale it is and I'm a man o' few words--but if so
be you've a mind for't----"

"I have, Zeb--proceed----"

"Well, it seems this Captain Effingham with his company had took
prisoner a French officer in his own chateau, d'ye see, and meant to
shoot same in the morning for a spy. But to Captain Effingham comes
the officer's wife--young she was and very handsome, and implored the
Captain to mercy, which he agreed to if she'd consent to----"

"I take you, Zeb!"

"'Twas for her husband's life and she was very young, sir--I chanced to
see her arterwards. So the Captain had his way. Next morning, very
early, comes a roll o' musketry. She leaps out o' bed, runs to the
lattice and there's he