fully.

"Yes. Well, Mrs. Packard believes that she has seen what--what gives
this name to the house."

"A ghost?"

"Yes, a ghost--in the library one night."

"Ah!"

The ejaculation was eloquent. I did not altogether understand it, but
its chief expression seemed to be contempt. I began to fear he would not
have sufficient sympathy with such an unreasoning state of mind to give
me the attention and assistance I desired. He saw the effect it had upon
me and hastened to say:

"The impression Mrs. Packard has made upon me was of a common-sense
woman. I'm sorry to hear that she is the victim of an hallucination.
What do you propose to do about it?--for I see that you have some
project in mind."

Then I told him as much of my story as seemed necessary to obtain his
advice and to secure his cooperation. I confided to him my theory of the
unexplainable sights and sounds which had so unfortunately aroused Mrs.
Packard's imagination, and what I had done so far to substantiate it. I
did not mention the bonds, nor tell him of Bess and her box, but led
him to think that my experiments in the cellar had been the result of my
discoveries in the side entrance.

He listened gravely--I hardly feel justified in saying with a surprise
that was complimentary. I am not sure that it was. Such men are
difficult to understand. When I had finished, he remarked with a smile:

"So you conclude that the floor of this place is movable and that
the antiquated ladies you mention have stretched their old limbs in a
difficult climb, just for the game of frightening out tenants they did
not desire for neighbors?"

"I know that it sounds ridiculous," I admitted, refraining still, in
spite of the great temptation, from mentioning the treasure which it was
the one wish of their lives to protect from the discovery of others. "If
they were quite sane I should perhaps not have the courage to suggest
this explanation of what has been heard and seen here. But they are not
quite sane; a glance at their faces is enough to convince one of this,
and from minds touched with insanity anything can be expected. Will you
go with me to this side entrance and examine the floor for yourself?
The condition of things under it I will ask you to take my word for; you
will hardly wish to visit the cellar on an exploring expedition till you
are reasonably assured of its necessity."

His eye, which had grown curiously cold and unresponsive through this,
turned from