the enchanted castle-第35部分

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and　unlikely　passages　and　stairs　that　she　had　discovered。　It　was　a
glorious　morning。　Lord　Yalding　and　Mademoiselle　went　through
the　house；　it　is　true；　but　in　a　rather　half…hearted　way。　Quite　soon
they　were　tired；　and　went　out　through　the　French　windows　of　the
drawing…room　and　through　the　rose　garden；　to　sit　on　the　curved
stone　seat　in　the　middle　of　the　maze；　where　once；　at　the　beginning
of　things；　Gerald；　Kathleen；　and　Jimmy　had　found　the　sleeping
Princess　who　wore　pink　silk　and　diamonds。

The　children　felt　that　their　going　left　to　the　castle　a　more　spacious
freedom；　and　explored　with　more　than　Arctic　enthusiasm。　It　was　as
they　emerged　from　the　little　rickety　secret　staircase　that　led　from
the　powdering…room　of　the　state　suite　to　the　gallery　of　the　hall　that
they　came　suddenly　face　to　face　with　the　odd　little　man　who　had　a
beard　like　a　goat　and　had　taken　the　wrong　turning　yesterday。

〃This　part　of　the　castle　is　private；〃　said　Mabel；　with　great　presence
of　mind；　and　shut　the　door　behind　her。

〃I　am　aware　of　it；〃　said　the　goat…faced　stranger；　〃but　I　have　the
permission　of　the　Earl　of　Yalding　to　examine　the　house　at　my
leisure。〃　

〃Oh！〃　said　Mabel。　〃I　beg　your　pardon。　We　all　do。　We　didn't　know。〃　

〃You　are　relatives　of　his　lordship；　I　should　surmise？〃　asked　the
goat…faced。

〃Not　exactly；〃　said　Gerald。　〃Friends〃。　

The　gentleman　was　thin　and　very　neatly　dressed；　he　had　small；
merry　eyes　and　a　face　that　was　brown　and　dry…looking。

〃You　are　playing　some　game；　I　should　suppose？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　said　Gerald；　〃only　exploring。〃　

〃May　a　stranger　propose　himself　as　a　member　of　your　Exploring
Expedition？〃　asked　the　gentleman；　smiling　a　tight　but　kind　smile。

The　children　looked　at　each　other。

〃You　see；〃　said　Gerald；　〃it's　rather　difficult　to　explain　　but　you　see
what　I　mean；　don't　you？〃

〃He　means；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃that　we　can't　take　you　into　an　exploring
party　without　we　know　what　you　want　to　go　for。〃　

〃Are　you　a　photographer？〃　asked　Mabel；　〃or　is　it　some　newspaper's
sent　you　to　write　about　the　Towers？〃

〃I　understand　your　position；〃　said　the　gentleman。　〃I　am　not　a
photographer；　nor　am　I　engaged　by　any　journal。　I　am　a　man　of
independent　means；　travelling　in　this　country　with　the　intention　of
renting　a　residence。　My　name　is　Jefferson　D。　Conway。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Mabel；　〃then　you're　the　American　millionaire。〃　

〃I　do　not　like　the　description；　young　lady；〃　said　Mr。　Jefferson　D。
Conway。　〃I　am　an　American　citizen；　and　I　am　not　without　means。
This　is　a　fine　property　a　very　fine　property。　If　it　were　for　sale　；〃

〃It　isn't；　it　can't　be；〃　Mabel　hastened　to　explain。　〃The　lawyers　have
put　it　in　a　tale；　so　Lord　Yalding　can't　sell　it。　But　you　could　take　it
to　live　in；　and　pay　Lord　Yalding　a　good　millionairish　rent；　and　then
he　could　marry　the　French　governess　〃

〃Shish！〃　said　Kathleen　and　Mr。　Jefferson　D。　Conway　together；　and
he　added：　〃Lead　the　way；　please；　and　I　should　suggest　that　the
exploration　be　complete　and　exhaustive。〃　

Thus　encouraged；　Mabel　led　the　millionaire　through　all　the　castle。
He　seemed　pleased；　yet　disappointed　too。

〃It　is　a　fine　mansion；〃　he　said　at　last　when　they　had　come　back　to
the　point　from　which　they　had　started；　〃but　I　should　suppose；　in　a
house　this　size；　there　would　mostly　be　a　secret　stairway；　or　a
priests　hiding　place；　or　a　ghost？〃

〃There　are；〃　said　Mabel　briefly；　〃but　I　thought　Americans　didn't
believe　in　anything　but　machinery　and　newspapers。〃　She　touched
the　spring　of　the　panel　behind　her；　and　displayed　the　little　tottery
staircase　to　the　American。　The　sight　of　it　worked　a　wonderful
transformation　in　him。　He　became　eager；　alert；　very　keen。

〃Say！〃　he　cried；　over　and　over　again；　standing　in　the　door　that　led
from　the　powdering…room　to　the　state　bed…chamber。　〃But　this　is
great　great！〃　

The　hopes　of　everyone　ran　high。　It　seemed　almost　certain　that　the
castle　would　be　let　for　a　millionairish　rent　and　Lord　Yalding　be
made　affluent　to　the　point　of　marriage。

〃If　there　were　a　ghost　located　in　this　ancestral　pile；　I'd　close　with
the　Earl　of　Yalding　today；　now；　on　the　nail；〃　Mr。　Jefferson　D。
Conway　went　on。

〃If　you　were　to　stay　till　tomorrow；　and　sleep　in　this　room；　I　expect
you'd　see　the　ghost；〃　said　Mabel。

〃There　is　a　ghost　located　here　then？〃　he　said　joyously。

〃They　say；〃　Mabel　answered；　〃that　old　Sir　Rupert；　who　lost　his
head　in　Henry　the　Eighth's　time；　walks　of　a　night　here；　with　his
head　under　his　arm。　But　we've　not　seen　that。　What　we　have　seen　is
the　lady　in　a　pink　dress　with　diamonds　in　her　hair。　She　carries　a
lighted　taper；〃　Mabel　hastily　added。　The　others；　now　suddenly
aware　of　Mabel's　plan；　hastened　to　assure　the　American　in　accents
of　earnest　truth　that　they　had　all　seen　the　lady　with　the　pink　gown。

He　looked　at　them　with　half…closed　eyes　that　twinkled。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　calculate　to　ask　the　Earl　of　Yalding　to　permit
me　to　pass　a　night　in　his　ancestral　best　bed…　chamber。　And　if　I　hear
so　much　as　a　phantom　footstep；　or　hear　so　much　as　a　ghostly　sigh；
I'll　take　the　place。〃　

〃I　am　glad！〃　said　Cathy。

〃You　appear　to　be　very　certain　of　your　ghost；〃　said　the　American；
still　fixing　them　with　little　eyes　that　shone。　〃Let　me　tell　you；　young
gentlemen；　that　I　carry　a　gun；　and　when　I　see　a　ghost；　I　shoot。〃　

He　pulled　a　pistol　out　of　his　hip…pocket；　and　looked　at　it　lovingly。

〃And　I　am　a　fair　average　shot；〃　he　went　on；　walking　across　the
shiny　floor　of　the　state　bed…chamber　to　the　open　window。　〃See　that
big　red　rose；　like　a　tea…saucer？〃

They　saw。

The　next　moment　a　loud　report　broke　the　stillness；　and　the　red
petals　of　the　shattered　rose　strewed　balustrade　and　terrace。

The　American　looked　from　one　child　to　another。　Every　face　was
perfectly　white。

〃Jefferson　D。　Conway　made　his　little　pile　by　strict　attention　to
business；　and　keeping　his　eyes　skinned；〃　he　added。　〃Thank　you　for
all　your　kindness。〃

〃Suppose　you'd　done　it；　and　he'd　shot　you！〃　said　Jimmy　cheerfully。
〃That　would　have　been　an　adventure；　wouldn't　it？〃

〃I'm　going　to　do　it　still；〃　said　Mabel；　pale　and　defiant。　〃Let's　find
Lord　Yalding　and　get　the　ring　back。〃　

Lord　Yalding　had　had　an　interview　with　Mabel's　aunt；　and　lunch
for　six　was　laid　in　the　great　dark　hall；　among　the　armour　and　the
oak　furniture　a　beautiful　lunch　served　on　silver　dishes。
Mademoiselle；　becoming　every　moment　younger　and　more　like　a
Princess；　was　moved　to　tears　when　Gerald　rose；　lemonade…glass　in
hand；　and　proposed　the　health　of　〃Lord　and　Lady　Yalding〃。

When　Lord　Yalding　had　returned　thanks　in　a　speech　full　of
agreeable　jokes　the　moment　seemed　to　Gerald　propitious；　and　he
said：

〃The　ring；　you　know　you　don't　believe　in　it；　but　we　do。　May　we
have　it　back？〃

And　got　it。

Then；　after　a　hasty　council；　held　in　the　panelled　jewel…room；
Mabel　said：　〃This　is　a　wishing…ring；　and　I　wish　all　the　American's
weapons　of　all　sorts　were　here。〃　

Instantly　the　room　was　full　six　feet　up　the　wall　of　a　tangle　and
mass　of　weapons；　swords；　spears；　arrows；　tomahawks；　fowling
pieces；　blunderbusses；　pistols；　revolvers；　scimitars；　kreeses　every
kind　of　weapon　you　can　think　of　and　the　four　children　wedged　in
among　all　these　weapons　of　death　hardly　dared　to　breathe。

〃He　collects　arms；　I　expect；〃　said　Gerald；　〃and　the　arrows　are
poisoned；　I　shouldn't　wonder。　Wish　them　back　where　they　came
from；　Mabel；　for　goodness　sake；　and　try　again。〃　

Mabel　wished　the　weapons　away；　and　at　once　the　four　children
stood　safe　in　a　bare　panelled　room。　But　

〃No；〃；　Mabel　said；　〃I　can't　stand　it。　We'll　work　the　ghost　another
way。　I　wish　the　American　may　think　he　sees　a　ghost　when　he　goes
to　bed。　Sir　Rupert　with　his　head　under　his　arm　will　do。〃　

〃Is　it　tonight　he　sleeps　there？〃

〃I　don't　know。　I　wish　he　may　see　Sir　Rupert　every　night　that'll
make　it　all　serene。〃　

〃It's　rather　dull；〃　said　Gerald；　〃we　shan't　know　whether　he's　seen
Sir　Rupert　or　not。〃　

〃We　shall　know　in　the　morning；　when　he　takes　the　house。〃　

This　being　settled；　Mabel's　aunt　was　found　to　be　desirous　of
Mabel's　company；　so　the　others　went　home。

It　was　when　they　were　at　supper　that　Lord　Yalding　suddenly
appeared；　and　said：　〃Mr。　Jefferson　Conway　wants　you　boys　to
spend　the　night　with　him　in　the　state　chamber。　I've　had　beds　put
up。　You　don't　mind；　do　you？　He　seems　to　think　you've　got　some
idea　of　playing　ghost…tricks　on　him。〃　

It　was　difficult　to　refuse；　so　difficult　that　it　proved　impossible。

Ten　o　clock　found　the　boys　each　in　a　narrow　white　bed　that　looked
quite　absurdly　small　in　that　high；　dark　chamber；　and　in　face　of　that
tall　gaunt　four…poster　hung　with　tapestry　and　ornamented　with
funereal…looking　plumes。

〃I　hope　to　goodness　there　isn't　a　real　ghost；〃　Jimmy　whispered。

〃Not　likely；〃　Gerald　whispered　back。

〃But　I　don't　want　to　see　Sir　Rupert's　ghost　with　its　head　under　its
arm；〃　Jimmy　insisted。

〃You　won't。　The　most　you'll　see'll　be　the　millionaire　seeing　it。
Mabel　said　he　was　to　see　it；　not　us。　Very　likely　you'll　sleep　all
night　and　not　see　anything。　Shut　your　eyes　and　count　up　to　a
million　and　don't　be　a　goat！〃　

As　soon　as　Mabel　had　learned　from　her　drab…haired　aunt　that　this
was　indeed　the　night　when　Mr。　Jefferson　D。　Conway　would　sleep
at　the　castle　she　had　hastened　to　add　a　wish；　〃that　Sir　Rupert　and
his　head　may　appear　tonight　in　the　state　bedroom。〃

Jimmy　shut　his　eyes　and　began　to　count　a　million。　Before　he　had
counted　it　he　fell　asleep。　So　did　his　brother。

They　were　awakened　by　the　loud　echoing　bang　of　a　pistol　shot。
Each　thought　of　the　shot　that　had　been　fired　that　morning；　and
opened　eyes　that　expected　to　see　a　sunshiny　terrace　and　red…rose
petals　strewn　upon　warm　white　stone。

Instead；　there　was　the　dark；　lofty　state　chamber；　lighted　but　little
by　six　tall　candles；　there　was　the　American　in　shirt　and　trousers；　a
smoking　pistol　in　his　hand；　and　there；　advancing　from　the　door　of
the　powdering…room；　a　figure　in　doublet　and　hose；　a　ruff　round　its
neck　and　no　head！　The　head；　sure　enough；　was　there；　but　it　was
under　the　right　arm；　held　close　in　the　slashed…velvet　sleeve　of　the
doublet。　The　face　looking　from　under　the　arm　wore　a　pleasant
smile。　Both　boys；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　screamed。　The　American　fired
again。　The　bullet　passed　through　Sir