enmark and England, regions of fog, are overrun with
ghosts. There's the spectre of Hamlet, then that of Banquo, the shadows
of Richard III. Italy has only one spectre, Caesar, and then where did he
appear to Brutus? At Philippi, in Macedonia and in Thessaly, the Denmark
of Greece, the Scotland of the Orient; where the fog made Ovid so
melancholy he named the odes he wrote there Tristia. Why did Virgil make
the ghost of Anchises appear to Eneas? Because he came from Mantua.
Do you know Mantua? A marsh, a frog-pond, a regular manufactory
of rheumatism, an atmosphere of vapors, and consequently a nest of
phantoms."

"Go on, I'm listening to you."

"Have you seen the Rhine?"

"Yes."

"Germany, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Still another country of fairies, water sprites, sylphs, and
consequently phantoms ('for whoso does the greater see, can see the
less'), and all that on account of the fog. But where the devil can
the ghosts hide in Italy and Spain? Not the least bit of mist. And,
therefore, were I in Spain or Italy I should never attempt to-morrow's
adventure."

"But all that doesn't explain why you refuse my company," insisted Sir
John.

"Wait a moment. I've just explained to you that ghosts don't venture
into certain countries, because they do not offer certain atmospheric
conditions. Now, let me explain the precautions we must take if we wish
to see them."

"Explain! explain!" said Sir John, "I would rather hear you talk than
any other man, Roland."

And Sir John, stretching himself out in his easy-chair, prepared to
listen with delight to the improvisations of this fantastic mind,
which he had seen under so many aspects during the few days of their
acquaintance.

Roland bowed his head by way of thanks.

"Well, this is the way of it, and you will grasp it readily enough. I
have heard so much about ghosts in my life that I know the scamps as if
I had made them. Why do ghosts appear?"

"Are you asking me that?" inquired Sir John.

"Yes, I ask you."

"I own that, not having studied ghosts as you have, I am unable to give
you a definitive answer."

"You see! Ghosts show themselves, my dear fellow, in order to frighten
those who see them."

"That is undeniable."

"Of course! Now, if they don't frighten those to whom they appear, they
are frightened by them; witness M. de Turenne, whose ghosts proved to be
counterfeiters. Do you know that story?"

"No."

"I'll tell it to you some day; don't let's get