had waited up to the last moment and
had just taken his departure, but as he moved along the floor toward
the chimney the royal eye saw him.

"Be jabers!" said "His Majesty," "ghost or no ghost, I must see to
this. The castle's haunted as sure as a gun, but that isn't the
figure an' farrum av a maydoiayval ghost, so it isn't."

Mrs. Russell now revived, and struggled up to her feet.

"Is--is--it gig--gig--gone?" she asked, with a shudder.

"Sorra a one av me knows," said "His Majesty." "I'm going to
invistigate."

"Oh!" wailed Mrs. Russell, "leave me not--oh, Your Sacred Majesty,
desert me not!"

"Shure I'm only going to get loights," said "His Majesty."

"Oh, forsake me not! Be not so cruel!"

"Crool! Ah, be off wid yer nonsinse!" said "His Majesty." "Whisht
now, jool--sure I'll be back in a jiffy. If it's any one that's got
in, I'll find him whin I come back; an' if it's a ghost, why, it's
just as well to know it."

"Oh, your Majesty," cried Mrs. Russell, "do not forsake me! Without
you it is too--too--too horrible!"

"Shure ain't I telling yez," said "His Majesty," "that I'm only goin'
to get loights, an' that I'll be back in a jiffy? Be quiet, now, an'
it 'll be all right."

With these words "His Majesty" tried gently but firmly to disengage
Mrs. Russell's clasped arms from about his neck. This he found much
difficulty in doing, but at length he succeeded in getting free.
After this he went out, locking the door behind him.

After about five minutes he returned with a blazing torch, followed
by half a dozen men, who remained outside awaiting his summons, while
"His Majesty" alone went in. The moment that the door opened to admit
him, some one came rushing into his arms with such violence as almost
to extinguish the torch and upset the royal person. "His Majesty"
recovered himself, however, and uttered several ejaculations which in
any less distinguished person would certainly have sounded like
profanity.

"Be aisy, now, will yez?" he said, in a milder voice, "an' howld away
yer arrums, jool, till I invistigate the primisis. If it's a livin'
man I'll fix him; an' if it's a ghost--begorra, I'll--let him go."

With these words "His Majesty" succeeded in extricating himself from
the clutches of Mrs. Russell, and, holding aloft the torch, began to
walk about the room, looking closely everywhere, while Mrs. Russell
followed at his heels, entreating him to take care of his royal
person.

"Arrah, shure