uggestion was unspeakably horrible to Mrs. Russell. Well
she knew who that _last prisoner_ was! The _last prisoner_! Oh,
horror! and the apparition was _It_! And _It_ had come to
her!--embraced her!--spoke words of love! It was _He_!--her once
loved but now lost Johnny!

The thought was too much. With a wild yell, she flung her arms around
"His Majesty" and fainted.

"It's mesilf," said "His Majesty," placidly, "that 'ud be the proud
man to shtay here an' watch wid yez agin the ghost, but juty calls me
elsewhere." As he said this, he tried to detach the arms of Mrs.
Russell, who now clung to him with rigid and death-like tenacity.
This, however, he could not do, and as her weight was considerable,
he gravely seated himself on the floor, and implored Katie and
Dolores to help him. This they did, and their united efforts
succeeded in loosening Mrs. Russell's grasp. The stricken lady gave a
gasp and raised her head, but "His Majesty" was too nimble for her.
By a desperate movement he withdrew from her reach, and stood for a
moment at a respectable distance.

"Ladies," said he, "it's mesilf that 'ud be the proud man to shtay;
but there's no danger in the worruld--not the laste in loife, an'
this lady requires your care. So I'm thinkin' I'll be off, an' if
anythin' happens agin, you sing out."

Saying these words, "His Majesty" left the room somewhat more
hurriedly than he had entered it. His departure completed Mrs.
Russell's prostration. For the remainder of the night she refused to
be comforted, but remained terrified, lamenting bitterly, and
exclaiming incessantly: "Oh, why did he leave me!--why, oh, why did
he leave me!"

CHAPTER XXXII.

IN WHICH HARRY MAKES AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY.

Harry had been the first to escape from the room. He had waited long,
fearing lest others might be in the chimney; but at length, as the
actions of the new-comer did not seem consistent with those of a
pursuer, he had concluded to risk it. He had then entered the
chimney, and was able to reach his own room in safety. Ashby had not
left until the very last moment, when the door had already opened to
admit "His Majesty," so that the two had not met. But Harry, on
reaching his own room, stood for a long time in the fireplace,
listening; and as he listened, he felt sure that he heard sounds, and
these sounds seemed as though made by pursuers. Upon this he flung
himself upon his bed, where he lay motionless for nearly an hour