“Then I will go at once,” said Hugh, thinking it better to meet the gradual approach of the phantom-hour in the room itself, than to walk there through the desolate house, and enter the room just as the fear would be gathering thickest within it.  Besides, he was afraid that his courage might have broken down a little by that time, and that he would not be able to conceal entirely the anticipative dread, whose inroad he had reason to apprehend.

“I have one good cup of tea yet, Mr. Sutherland,” said Euphra.  “Will you not strengthen your nerves with that, before we lead you to the tomb?”

“Then she will go with me,” thought Hugh.  “I will, thank you, Miss Cameron.”

He approached the table at which she stood pouring out the cup of tea.  She said, low and hurriedly, without raising her head: 

“Don’t go, dear Hugh.  You don’t know what may happen.”

“I will go, Euphra.  Not even you shall prevent me.”

“I will pay the wager for you —­ lend you the money.”

“Euphra!” —­ The tone implied many things.

Mr. Arnold approached.  Other conversation followed.  As half-past ten chimed from the clock on the chimney-piece, Hugh rose to go.

“I will just get a book from my room,” he said; “and then perhaps Herr von Funkelstein will be kind enough to see me make a beginning at least.”

“Certainly I will.  And I advise you to let the book be Edgar Poe’s Tales.”

“No.  I shall need all the courage I have, I assure you.  I shall find you here?”

“Yes.”

Hugh went to his room, and washed his face and hands.  Before doing so, he pulled off his finger a ring of considerable value, which had belonged to his father.  As he was leaving the room to return to the company, he remembered that he had left the ring on the washhand-stand.  He generally left it there at night; but now he bethought himself that, as he was not going to sleep in the room, it might be as well to place it in the escritoire.  He opened the secret place, and laid the diamond beside his poems and the crystal ring belonging to Mr. Arnold.  This done, he took up his book again, and, returning to the drawing-room, found the whole party prepared to accompany him.  Mr. Arnold had the keys.  Von Funkelstein and he went first, and Hugh followed with Euphra.

“We will not contribute to your discomfiture by locking the doors on the way, Mr. Sutherland,” said Mr. Arnold.

“That is, you will not compel me to win the wager in spite of my fears,” said Hugh.

“But you will let the ghost loose on the household,” said the Bohemian, laughing.

“I will be responsible for that,” replied Mr. Arnold.

Euphra dropped a little behind with Hugh.

“Remember the secret passage,” said she.  “You can get out when you will, whether they lock the door, or not.  Don’t carry it too far, Hugh.”

“The ghost you mean, Euphra. —­ I don’t think I shall,” said Hugh, laughing.  But as he laughed, an involuntary shudder passed through him.