tly believe there's a pinch of danger in that blessed
place, then I certainly sleep there to-night, or else wake there."

"Let me come, too, then, Tom."

"That be damned for a yarn! Ghosts don't show up for two people--haven't
got pluck enough. If I get any sport, I'll be quite straight about it,
and you shall try your luck to-morrow."

"I can only make it a favor; and not for your own sake, either."

"I know. Mary will be sleeping the sleep of the just in the next room.
How little she'll guess! Perhaps, if I see an apparition worthy of the
Golden Age, I'll call her up."

"Do oblige me, May."

"In anything on earth but this thing. It's really too late now. Don't
you see you've defeated your own object? You mustn't ask me to throw
up the sponge to your sudden intuition of danger sprung on me at the
eleventh hour. I won the toss, and can't take my orders from you, old
chap, can I?"

The other, in his turn, grew a little warm.

"All right. I've spoken. I think you're rather a fool to be so
obstinate. It isn't as if a nervous old woman was talking to you. But
you'll go your own way. It doesn't matter a button to me, and I only
made it a favor for somebody else's sake."

"We'll leave it at that, then. May I trouble you for the key? And your
revolver, too. I haven't got mine here."

Henry hesitated. The key was in the pocket of his jacket.

"It is a matter of honor, Lennox," said the sailor.

The other handed over the key on this speech, and prepared to go.

"I'll get the revolver," he said.

"Thanks. Look me up in the morning, if you're awake first," added May;
but the other did not answer.

He let Tom precede him, and then turned out the lights. Other lights
he also extinguished as they left the hall and ascended the stairs.
The younger's pride was struggling for mastery; but he conquered it and
spoke again.

"I wish to Heaven you could see it from another point of view than your
own, Tom."

"I have no point of view. You're rather exasperating, and don't seem
to understand that, even if I might have changed my mind before, it's
impossible now."

"That's really only a foolish sort of pride. If I chose my words
clumsily--"

"You did. The devil and all his angels wouldn't make me climb down now."

The younger left him, and returned in a minute or two with the revolver.

"Good-night," he said.

"Good-night, old boy. Thank you. Loaded?"

"In all the chambers. Funny you should want it."

"Take it b