ere be noa plaze to put the nag in, and there be only one room and
one bed in the cot."

"What _shall_ I do?" cried the major, at his wits' end.

"I'll tell 'ee, zur," said the rustic, scratching his head violently,
as if to extract his ideas by the roots. "There be a voine large house
on the road, about a moile vurther on. It's noa an inn, but the
colonel zees company vor the vun o' the thing--'cause he loikes to zee
company about 'un. You must 'a heard ov him--Colonel Rogers--a' used
to be a soger once."

"Say no more," cried the major. "I _have_ heard of this hospitable
gentleman; and his having been in the army gives me a sure claim to
his attention. Here's a crown for your information, my good friend.
Come, Marlborough!"

Touching his steed with the spur, the major rode off, feeling an
exhilaration of spirits which soon communicated itself to the horse. A
sharp trot of a few minutes brought him to a large mansion, which
stood unfenced, like a huge caravansery, by the roadside. He made for
the front door and, without dismounting, plied the large brass knocker
till a servant in livery made his appearance.

"Is your master up?" asked the major.

"I am the occupant of this house," said a venerable gentleman, making
his appearance at the hall door.

"I am a benighted traveller, sir," said the major, touching his hat,
"and come to claim your well-known hospitality. Can you give me a bed
for the night? I am afraid my four-footed companion is hardly able to
carry me to the next inn."

"I cannot promise you a bed, sir," said the host, "for I have but one
spare bed in the house."

"And that----" said the major.

"Happens to be in a room that does not enjoy a very pleasing
reputation. In short, sir, one room of my house is haunted; and that
is the only one, unfortunately, that I can place at your disposal
to-night."

"My dear sir," said the major, springing from his horse, and tossing
the bridle to the servant, "you enchant me beyond expression! A
haunted chamber! The very thing--and I, who have never seen a ghost!
What luck!"

The host shook his head gravely.

"I never knew a man," he said, "to pass a night in that chamber
without regretting it."

Major Stanley laughed as he took his pistols from the holster pipes.
"With these friends of mine," he said, "I fear neither ghost nor
demon."

Colonel Rogers showed his guest into a comfortable parlor, where a
seacoal fire was burning cheerfully in a grate, an