THE GHOST OF THE PAST

Temptation had seized Mr. Caryll in a throttling grip, and for two whole
days he kept the house, shunning all company and wrestling with that
same Temptation. In the end he took a whimsical resolve, entirely worthy
of himself.

He would go to Lord Ostermore formally to ask in marriage the hand of
Mistress Winthrop, and he would be entirely frank with the earl, stating
his exact condition, but suppressing the names of his parents.

He was greatly taken with the notion. It would create a situation
ironical beyond any, grotesque beyond belief; and its development should
be stupendously interesting. It attracted him irresistibly. That he
should leave it to his own father to say whether a man born as he was
born might aspire to marry his father's ward, had in it something that
savored of tragi-comedy. It was a pretty problem, that once set could
not be left unsolved by a man of Mr. Caryll's temperament. And, indeed,
no sooner was the idea conceived than it quickened into a resolve upon
which he set out to act.

He bade Leduc call a chair, and, dressed in mourning, but with his
habitual care, he had himself carried to Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Engrossed as he was in his own thoughts, he paid little heed to the hum
of excitement about the threshold of Stretton House. Within the railed
enclosure that fronted the mansion two coaches were drawn up, and a
little knot of idlers stood by one of these in busy gossip.

Paying no attention to them, Mr. Caryll mounted the steps, nor noticed
the gravity of the porter's countenance as he passed within.

In the hall he found a little flock of servants gathered together,
and muttering among themselves like conspirators in a tragedy; and so
engrossed that they paid no heed to him as he advanced, nor until he
had tapped one of them on the shoulder with his cane--and tapped him a
thought peremptorily.

"How now?" said he. "Does no one wait here?"

They fell apart a little, and stood at attention, with something curious
in their bearing, one and all.

"My service to his lordship, and say that I desire to speak with him."

They looked at one another in hesitation for a moment; then Humphries,
the butler, came forward. "Your honor'll not have heard the news?" said
he, a solemn gravity in face and tone.

"News?" quoth Mr. Caryll sharply, intrigued by so much show of mystery.
"What news?"

"His lordship is very ill, sir. He had a seizure this morning when they