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"That’s all very fine," said the last speaker again; "a ghost story is a ghost story, sir; but whena gentleman tells a tale of a ghost in the house in which one is going to sleep, I call it most ungentlemanly!"

"Pooh! nonsense!" said the old gentleman, rising; "ghosts can’t hurt you. For my own part, Ishould rather like to see one. Good night, gentlemen. "

"Good night," said the others. "And I only hope Jerry’ll pay you a visit," added the nervousman as the door closed.

"Bring some more whisky, George," said a stout commercial; "I want keeping up when thetalk turns this way. "

"Shall I light the gas, Mr. Malcolm?" said George.

"No; the fire’s very comfortable," said the traveller. "Now, gentlemen, any of you know anymore?"

"I think we’ve had enough," said the other man; "we shall be thinking we see spirits next, andwe’re not all like the old gentleman who’s just gone. "

"Old humbug!" said Hirst. "I should like to put him to the test. Suppose I dress up as JerryBundler and go and give him a chance of displaying his courage?"

"Bravo!" said Malcolm, huskily; drowning one or two faint "Noes. "

"Just for the joke,gentlemen. "

"No, no! Drop it, Hirst," said another man.

"Only for the joke," said Hirst, somewhat eagerly. "I’ve got some things upstairs in which Iam going to play in The Rivals—knee-breeches, buckles, and all that sort of thing. It’s a rare chance. If you’ll wait a bit I’ll give you a full dress rehearsal, entitled ‘Jerry Bundler; or TheNocturnal Strangler.’ "

"You won’t frighten us," said the commercial, with a husky laugh.

"I don’t know that," said Hirst sharply; "it’s a question of acting, that’s all. I’m pretty good,ain’t I, Somers?"

"Oh, you’re alright—for an amateur," said his friend, with a laugh.

"I’ll bet a level sov, you don’t frighten me," said the stout traveller.

"Done!" said Hirst. "I’ll take the bet to frighten you first and the old gentleman afterwards.

"These gentlemen shall be the judges. "

"You won’t frighten us, sir," said another man, "because we’re prepared for you; but you’dbetter leave the old man alone. It’s dangerous play. "

"Well, I’ll try you first," said Hirst, springing up. "No gas, mind. "

He ran lightly upstairs to his room, leaving the others, most of whom had been drinkingsomewhat freely, to wrangle about his proceedings. It ended in two of them going to bed.

"He’s crazy on acting," said Somers, lighting his pipe. "Thinks he’s the equal of anybodyalmost. It doesn’t matter with us, but I won’t let him go to th
e old man. And he won’t mind solong as he gets an opportunity of acting to us. "

"Well, I hope he’ll hurry up"’ said Malcolm yawning; "it’s nearly twelve now. "

Nearly half an hour passed. Malcolm drew his watch from his pocket and was busy winding it,when George the waiter, who had been sent on an errand to the bar, burst suddenly into the roomand rushed towards them.

" ‘E’s comin’, gentlemen,” he said breathlessly.

"Why, you’re frightened, George," said the stout commercial, with a chuckle.

"It was the suddenness of it," said George, sheepishly; "and besides, I didn’t look for seein”im in the bar. There’s only a glimmer of light there, and ‘e was sitting on the floor behind the bar. I nearly trod on ‘im. "

"Oh, you’ll never make a man, George," said Malcolm.

"Well, it took me unawares," said the waiter. "Not that I’d have gone to the bar by myself ifI’d known ‘e was there, and I don’t believe you would, either, sir. "

"Nonsense," said Malcolm. "I’ll go and fetch him in. "

"You don’t know what it’s like, sir," said George, catching him by the sleeve. "It ain’t fit tolook at by yourself; it ain’t, indeed. It’s got the—What’s that?"