hort av it is, I have to infarrum yez that I'm going to move yez out
av this the morrer, an' have yez put in another room where there
won't be nothin' in loife to harrum yez, where ye'll have more
comfort comboined with safety thin ye've had here."

This remark made Katie reflect. The worst had already happened--the
discovery and arrest of Harry. After that she could not hope to see
him again. She did not wish to leave the room; but as Harry's visits
were now at an end, she could not see that it would make any
difference. But Mrs. Russell had a great deal to say.

"Oh, how grateful!" she cried, in her most gushing manner. "Oh, how
deeply grateful I am to Your Gracious Majesty! It's so kind, so
thoughtful, so considerate, and so true. Oh, what can I ever say or
do to express my gratitude? Only, Your Gracious Majesty, do not leave
me now! Leave me not--oh, forsake me not! This room is a place of
horrors. It is a haunted chamber. When you are here, I have no fear;
but when you are gone, then I am overwhelmed. Oh, Your Gracious
Majesty, forsake me not! Leave me not! Oh, leave me not,
or--I--shall--die!"

Against such an appeal as this the gallantry of "His Majesty" was
scarcely proof.

He threw a tender glance at Katie, which, however, was not perceived,
and then said:

"Shure to glory, if it's afeared ye are, why that's a different
matther, so it is. I didn't intind to move yez away this noight; but
if yez are afeared, why there's no raison in loife why yez shouldn't
go off now to the other room."

"Oh, take me away!" cried Mrs. Russell; "take me away, Your Royal
Majesty--take me with you!"

"Shure it's mesilf that'll take both av yez, if ye wish it, whiniver
ye say the worrud," said "His Majesty." "An' remimber, there's the
crown av Spain, an' the power, an' the glory, an' the dignity, an'
the pomp, an' the splindor av the Spanish throne, all to be had wid a
wink av one av your lovely eyes, so it is. Remimber that."

"Ah, sire!" said Mrs. Russell, languishingly. "Oh, Your Gracious
Majesty! Ah, what shall I say?"

She had taken it all to herself, and in the most open way; while
Katie didn't take it at all. "His Majesty" saw this, and determined
to be more direct.

"Well," said he, "ye see--"

But at this moment a wild yell sounded forth from without, with
sudden and appalling fury. It burst upon their ears, from the
stillness of midnight, with terrific violence, chilling the very
blood in their veins. Then