d. If you persist in giving rise to
gossip and scandal, some busybody may bring the police on the scene."

"The police!" echoed the old man, now greatly alarmed, as would appear
from his shaking voice. "No! no! That will never do! My house is my
castle! The police dare not break into it! I am a peaceful and very
unfortunate gentleman, who wishes to live quietly. All this talk of
people being in my house is nonsense!"

"Yet you seemed afraid when I told you of the shadows," said Lucian
pointedly.

"Afraid! I am afraid of nothing!"

"Not even of those who are after you?" hinted Denzil, recalling the
conversation of the previous occasion.

Berwin gave a kind of eldritch shriek and stepped back a pace, as though
to place himself on his guard. "What--what do you know about such--such
things?" he panted.

"Only so much as you hinted at when I last saw you."

"Yes, yes! I was not myself on that night. The wine was in and the wit
was out."

"The truth also, it would seem," said Lucian drily, "judging by your
agitation then and now."

"I am an unfortunate gentleman," whimpered Berwin tremulously.

"If you will excuse me, sir, I shall leave you," said Lucian
ceremoniously. "It seems to be my fate to hold midnight conversations
with you in the cold, but I think this one had better be cut short."

"One moment," Mr. Berwin exclaimed. "You have been good enough to place
me on my guard as to the talk my quiet course of life is causing. Pray
add to your kindness by coming with me to my house and exploring it from
attic to basement. You will then see that there are no grounds for
scandal, and that the shadows you fancy you saw on the blind are not
those of real people."

"They can't be those of ghosts, at all events," replied Lucian, "as I
never heard, to my knowledge, that spirits could cast shadows."

"Well, come and see for yourself that the house is empty."

Warmly as this invitation was given, Lucian had some scruples about
accepting it. To explore an almost unfurnished mansion with a complete
stranger--and one with an ill reputation--at the midnight hour, is not
an enterprise to be coveted by any man, however bold he may be. Still,
Lucian had ample courage, and more curiosity, for the adventure, as the
chance of it stirred up that desire for romance which belongs peculiarly
to youth. Also he was anxious to satisfy himself concerning the blind
shadows, and curious to learn why Berwin inhabited so dismal and
myster