solemnly, with dropped jaw.

"I'm going to find out!" he said, taking a step forward.

But Minna, just inside the doorway, did not move to allow him to enter.

"Oh, I'm so glad!" she exclaimed. "Then we'll know the truth. But no!"
and she turned wild with protest. "No, no! I know there are! It's
dangerous, sir! You'd never come out alive! Unseen hands would seize you
and draw you down and strangle you--those terrible spirits of the dark
ages!"

Her hands uplifted, fingers stretched apart in terror, lace white with
fear, Minna's distress was real--very real, indeed!--while she listened
impatiently for Marta's step in the adjoining room.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Bouchard in disgust. "I didn't know such
superstition existed in this day."

"I didn't, sir, until the groans and the clanking of the chains kept me
awake," replied Minna.

"Have you a lantern?" asked Bouchard in exasperation.

"A lantern?" repeated Minna blankly. Time! time! She must gain time!

"Yes, you gawk, a lantern!"

"Certainly; you'll need one," said Minna--"a big one! Go and fetch a big
army one--and some soldiers to fight the ghosts. But what are soldiers
against ghosts? Oh, sir, I don't like to think of you going at all.
Please, sir, don't, for the sake of your life!"

There Bouchard frowned heavily and his hawk eyes flashed in command and
decision.

"Enough of this farce! A lamp, a candle will do. Come, get me one
immediately!"

Just as she was at her wits' end and it seemed as if there were nothing
left to do but to scream and fall in a faint in front of Bouchard, her
ear caught the welcome sound which told her that Marta had returned from
the tunnel.

"Yes, sir. Won't you come in, sir? Of course, sir," she said, standing
aside. "Won't you be seated, sir?"

"Good day, Colonel Bouchard!" called Marta, appearing in the doorway.

"He wants to go into the dungeons to see the ghosts!" Minna exclaimed in
a return of horror before Bouchard had time to say a word, while she
screwed up the side of her face away from him suggestively to Marta.
"Those terrible ghosts! I'm afraid for him. Like a man, he may go right
into the dungeons, even if you didn't dare to, Miss Galland."

"I wish he would!" Marta joined in eagerly. "That might cure you of your
silly imaginings, Minna. She actually thinks, Colonel Bouchard, that she
hears them groan and moan and even shriek. Didn't you say they shrieked
as well as groaned and moaned once about 3 A.M.