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They all started at the sound of a smothered cry from the staircase and the sound of somebodyrunning hurriedly along the passage. Before anybody could speak, the door flew open and afigure bursting into the room flung itself gasping and shivering upon them.

"What is it? What’s the matter?" demanded Malcolm. "Why, it’s Mr. Hirst. " He shook himroughly and then held some spirit to his lips. Hirst drank it greedily and with a sharp intake of hisbreath gripped him by the arm.

"Light the gas, George," said Malcolm.

The waiter obeyed hastily. Hirst, a ludicrous but pitiable figure in knee-breeches and coat, alarge wig all awry, and his face a mess of grease paint, clung to him, trembling.

"Now, what’s the matter?" asked Malcolm.

"I’ve seen it," said Hirst, with a hysterical sob. "O Lord, I’ll never play the fool again, never!"

"Seen what?" said the others.

"Him—it—the ghost—anything!" said Hirst, wildly.

"Rot!" said Malcolm, uneasily.

"I was coming down the stairs," said Hirst, "just capering down— as I thought—it ought to do.

I felt a tap—"

He broke off suddenly and peered nervously through the open door into the passage.

"I thought I saw it again," he whispered. "Look—at the foot of the stairs. Can you seeanything?"

"No, there’s nothing there," said Malcolm, whose own voice shook a little. "Go on. You felt atap on your shoulder—"

"I turned round and saw it—a little wicked head and a white dead face. Pah!"

"That’s what I saw in the bar," said George. " ‘Orrid it was— devilish!"

Hirst shuddered, and, still retaining his nervous grip of Malcolm’s sleeve, dropped into a chair.

"Well, it’s a most unaccountable thing," said the dumbfounded Malcolm, turning to the others.

"It’s the last time I come to this house. "

"I leave tomorrow," said George. "I wouldn’t go down to that bar again by myself; no, not forfifty pounds!"

"It’s talking about the thing that’s caused it, I expect," said one of the men; "we’ve all beentalking about this and having it in our minds. Practically we’ve been forming a spiritualisticcircle without knowing it. "

"Hang the old gentleman!" said Malcolm, heartily. "Upon my soul, I’m half afraid to go tobed. It’s odd they should both think they saw something. "

"I saw it as plain as I see you, sir," said George, solemnly. "P’raps if you keep your eyesturned up the passage you’ll see it for yourself. "

They followed the direction of his finger, but saw nothing, although one of them fancied that ahead peeped round the corner of the wall.

"Who’ll come down to the bar?" said Malcolm, looking round.

"You can go, if you like," said one of the others, with a faint laugh; "we’ll wait here for you. "

The stout traveller walked towards the door and took a few steps up the passage. Then hestopped. All was quite silent, and he walked slowly to the end and looked down fearfully towardsthe glass partition which shut off the bar. Three times he made as though to go to it; then heturned back, and, glancing over his shoulder, came hurriedly back to the room.

"Did you see it, sir?" whispered George.

"Don’t know," said Malcolm softly. "I fancied I saw something, but it might have been fancy.

I’m in the mood to see anything just now. How are you feeling now, sir?"

"Oh, I feel a bit better now," said Hirst, somewhat brusquely, as all eyes were turned uponhim. "I dare say you think I’m easily scared, but you didn’t see it. "

"Not at all," said Malcolm, smiling faintly despite himself.

"I’m going to bed," said Hirst, noticing the smile and resenting it. "Will you share my roomwith me, Somers?"

"I will with pleasure," said his friend, "provided you don’t mind sleeping with the gas on fullall night. "