n know
then that I had discovered two skeletons! In those days I found so often
some train of circumstances--a borrowed book, a stranger coming across
my path, some unexpected visit paid, which were later found to have been
factors in a special experience--that I was rather surprised to realise
that I was leaving the "most haunted castle in Ireland" and that nothing
had happened.

But in the very moment of saying this to myself a curiously insistent
impression came to me quite suddenly, and "out of the blue."

The impression was that the brother of my host, Captain Kent, was
wishing very urgently to communicate something through me. I did not
feel equal to taking any message at the time--I have already explained
that I was only just recovering from a severe illness. Lunch and a long
drive to the station and a weary railway journey lay before me, so I
determined to do nothing until I was safely established with my cousins
near Cork.

After a long, cold, and wet journey I arrived in pouring rain, my train
being more than a hour late. The kind General who came to meet me was
still patiently standing on the platform, but one of the two "cars" he
had engaged for me and my baggage had taken itself off! As the rain was
descending in water-spouts, I need scarcely say it was the "covered car"
which had driven away!

This meant a thorough wetting for my cousin and me. How all the luggage
(including a large bicycle, and two people, in addition to the driver)
was ever piled up on that small "outside Irish car" I have never been
able to understand. Suffice it to say the miracle was performed, and we
drove up a hill at an angle of about forty-five degrees into the
bargain!

Clearly these were not ideal conditions for receiving automatic
messages!

I was put to bed at once with hot bottles and hot soup, and soon forgot
my past troubles in a long refreshing sleep.

I was still in the invalid stage of "breakfast in bed," and when this
had been cleared away, the remembrance of Captain Kent flashed into my
mind, and I found pencil and papers at once, in order to redeem my
promise.

The message was rather a curious one, and its opening sentence evidently
referred to the eccentric old lady whom I have mentioned as being asked
to meet me at luncheon at Castle Rush.

So far as I can remember them, the words (very characteristic of Captain
Kent's genial but rather brusque style) ran as follows:--

After speaking of the alleged ha