It’s what we agreed.”

He picked up his stick and went to the cupboard for the candle. A

limp form rose shakily beside him breathing hard, and he heard a voice

say very faintly something about being “ready to come”. The woman’s

courage amazed him; it was so much greater than his own; and, as they

advanced, holding aloft the dripping candle, some subtle force exhaled

from this trembling, white-faced old woman at his side that was the

true source of his inspiration. It held something really great that

shamed him and gave him the support without which he would have proved

far less equal to the occasion.

They crossed the dark landing, avoiding with their eyes the deep

black space over the banisters. Then they began to mount the narrow

staircase to meet the sounds which, minute by minute, grew louder and

nearer. About half-way up the stairs Aunt Julia stumbled and

Shorthouse turned to catch her by the arm, and just at that moment

there came a terrific crash in the servants’ corridor overhead. It was

instantly followed by a shrill, agonised scream that was a cry of

terror and a cry for help melted into one.

Before they could move aside, or go down a single step, someone

came rushing along the passage overhead, blundering horribly, racing

madly, at full speed, three steps at a time, down the very staircase

where they stood. The steps were light and uncertain; but close behind

them sounded the heavier tread of another person, and the staircase

seemed to shake.

Shorthouse and his companion just had time to flatten themselves

against the wall when the jumble of flying steps was upon them, and

two persons, with the slightest possible interval between them, dashed

past at full speed. It was a perfect whirlwind of sound breaking in

upon the midnight silence of the empty building.

The two runners, pursuer and pursued, had passed clean through them

where they stood, and already with a thud the boards below had

received first one, then the other. Yet they had seen absolutely

nothing—not a hand, or arm, or face, or even a shred of flying

clothing.

There came a second’s pause. Then the first one, the lighter of the

two, obviously the.pursued one, ran with uncertain footsteps into the

little room which Shorthouse and his aunt had just left. The heavier

one followed. There was a sound of scuffling, gasping, and smothered

screaming; and then out on to the landing came the step— of a single

person treading weightily.

A dead silence followed for the space of half a minute, and then

was heard a rushing sound through the air. It was followed by a dull,

crashing thud in the depths of the house below—on the stone floor of

the hall.

Utter silence reigned after. Nothing moved. The flame of the candle

was steady. It had been steady the whole time, and the air had been

undisturbed by any movement whatsoever. Palsied with terror, Aunt

Julia, without waiting for her companion, began fumbling her way

downstairs; she was crying gently to herself, and when Shorthouse put

his arm round her and half carried her, he felt that she was trembling

like a leaf. He went into the little room and picked up the cloak from

the floor, and, arm in arm, walking very slowly, without speaking a

word or looking once behind them, they marched down the three flights

into the hall.

In the hall they saw nothing, but the whole way down the stairs

they were conscious that someone followed them; step by step; when

they went faster IT was left behind, and when they went more slowly IT

caught them up. But never once did they look behind to see; and at each

turning of the staircase they lowered their eyes for fear of the

following horror they might see upon the stairs above.

With trembling hands Shorthouse opened the front door, and they

walked out into the moonlight and drew a deep breath of the cool night

air blowing in from the sea.

.