hen Carne conducted his three
visitors, for Wilkins had now rejoined them, into a low room poorly
furnished, and regaled them beyond his promise. "Rare stuff!" exclaimed
Stubbard, with a wink at Carne. "Ah, I see that free-trade still exists.
No concern of mine, except to enjoy its benefits. Here's to your very
good health, sir, and I am proud to have made your acquaintance."

"Have another drop; it can hurt no one," Carne declared, and the Captain
acquiesced.

"Well, I suppose we must finish our job," the official visitor at length
pronounced; "a matter of form, sir, and no offence; but we are bound
to carry out our duty. There is nothing left, except the other lot of
vaults; but the light begins to fail us, for underground work. I hope
they are not so dark as those we have been through."

"Just about the same. You would hardly know one set from the other, as
I told you, except for the stone that records the murder. Perhaps we had
better light the lantern now?"

"By all means. I don't half like that story of the lady that walks on
the water. It does seem so gashly and unchristian altogether. Not that I
have any fear of ghosts--not likely, for I have never even seen one."

"I have," said Gunner Bob, in a deep voice, which made them all glance
through the ivy. "I have, and a fearful one it were."

"Don't be a fool, Bob," the Captain whispered; "we don't want to hear
about that now. Allow me to carry the lantern, Mr. Carne; it throws such
shadows from the way you hold it. Why, surely, this is where we were
before!"

"You might easily fancy so," Carne answered, smiling, "especially with a
mind at all excited--"

"My mind is not excited, sir; not at all excited; but as calm as it ever
was in all its life."

"Then two things will show you that these are the other vaults. The arch
is on your left hand, instead of on your right"--he had brought them in
now from the other end of the passage--"and this entrance, as you see,
has a door in it, which the other had not. Perhaps the door is to keep
the ghost in"--his laugh sounded hollow, and like a mocking challenge
along the dark roof--"for this is the part she is supposed to walk in.
But so much for the door! The money-lenders have not left us a door that
will stand a good kick. You may find our old doors in Wardour Street."

As he spoke, he set foot against the makeshift door, and away it went,
as he had predicted. Crashing on the steps as it fell, it turned over,
and