senses. As for Irene, she only
smiled with ineffable bliss, as if it were exactly what she had expected
all along.

It was rather a cloudy night, so that I had great difficulty in
following the movements of the mysterious figure. When it gained the
centre of the chapel it paused, and then slowly turned towards the wall
of the house. As far as I could see, it was making some wild motion with
its upraised arms, whether of benediction or menace it was impossible to
discern at that distance; but I could not shake off a horrid impression
that it was cursing the slumbering inmates. And then, wonderful to
relate, whilst my eyes were fixed upon the dark figure, it began slowly
to rise into the air!

At this portentous sight, I don't mind confessing that my hair fairly
bristled with horror. Fortunately for the preservation of my reason, at
that instant the moon, gleaming from behind a cloud, revealed a long
ladder planted against Mr. Maitland's dressing-room window.

In a moment I recovered my self-possession.

"Stay still--I am going to leave you for a short time," I whispered.

Irene clung to me with both hands, and expressed a fear that the
outraged spirits would tear us in pieces if we moved.

"Bother the spirits!" I replied, in a gruff whisper. "I swear it will be
the worse for you if you make a fuss now!"

She sobbed and wrung her hands, but the time was past for that to have
any effect upon me, and, disengaging myself from her grasp, I crept
away, hiding as well as I could behind the scattered ruins.

In this manner I contrived almost to reach the foot of the ladder
without being discovered. I had a strange fancy for capturing the thief
single-handed and monopolising all the glory of saving the famous
diamonds. Waiting patiently until he had just reached the window, I
rushed forward and seized the ladder.

"It's no use resisting," I shouted; "if you don't give up quietly, I'll
shake."

At this point a second figure stepped out from behind a laurel bush and
effectually silenced any further threats by dealing me a heavy blow on
the head.

* * * * *

For days I lay insensible from concussion of the brain. When I was at
last pronounced convalescent, Maitland was admitted to my room, being
bound by solemn promises not to excite me in any way. With heartfelt
gratitude he shook my hand and thanked me for saving the family
diamonds.

"I shall take better care of them in the future,"