ghosts. Mark had been even more vain, pompous and
absurd than usual, and I could see that Miss Norris was irritated by it.
After dinner she suggested dressing up as a ghost and frightening him.
I thought it my duty to warn her that Mark took any joke against
himself badly, but she was determined to do it. I gave way reluctantly.
Reluctantly, also, I told her the secret of the passage. (There is an
underground passage from the library to the bowling-green. You should
exercise your ingenuity, Mr. Gillingham, in trying to discover it. Mark
came upon it by accident a year ago. It was a godsend to him; he could
drink there in greater secrecy. But he had to tell me about it. He
wanted an audience, even for his vices.)

"I told Miss Norris, then, because it was necessary for my plan that
Mark should be thoroughly frightened. Without the passage she could
never have got close enough to the bowling-green to alarm him properly,
but as I arranged it with her she made the most effective appearance,
and Mark was in just the state of rage and vindictiveness which I
required. Miss Norris, you understand, is a professional actress. I need
not say that to her I appeared to be animated by no other feeling than a
boyish desire to bring off a good joke--a joke directed as much against
the others as against Mark.

"He came to me that night, as I expected, still quivering with
indignation. Miss Norris must never be asked to the house again; I was
to make a special note of it; never again. It was outrageous. Had he not
a reputation as a host to keep up, he would pack her off next morning.
As it was, she could stay; hospitality demanded it; but never again
would she come to the Red House--he was absolutely determined about
that. I was to make a special note of it.

"I comforted him, I smoothed down his ruffled feathers. She had behaved
very badly, but he was quite right; he must try not to show how much he
disapproved of her. And of course she would never come again--that
was obvious. And then suddenly I began to laugh. He looked up at me
indignantly.

"'Is there a joke?" he said coldly.

"I laughed gently again.

"'I was just thinking,' I said, 'that it would be rather amusing if
you--well, had your revenge."

"'My revenge? How do you mean?'

"'Well, paid her back in her own coin.'

"'Do you mean try and frighten her?'

"'No, no; but dressed up and pulled her leg a bit. Made her look a fool
in front of the others.' I laughed to