"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, now," said "His Majesty," "we're accustomed to danger. We don't moind throifles like this--not a bit av it: "'For divil a bit av me cares, I'm randy to tackle the foe; If alive, let him fight if he dares, If he's dead, to the dogs let him go.'" By this time the noise and the flaming torches had seemed to rouse up Katie and Dolores. Both of these now stood up, blinking and shrinking, clinging timidly to one another, and looking like two frightened children just awakened. They seemed so surprised, so confused, and so terrified, that the heart of "His Majesty" swelled with pity and compassion. "Ladies! jools!" said he, "don't, don't give way. Shure it's all over now, so it is, an' yez needn't be a bit afraid any more." "What's all over?" asked Katie, in a tone of alarm. "What? Why--shure nothin'." "There was some one in the room," said Mrs. Russell, in frightened tones. "Some one in the room!" cried Katie, in a voice so full of terror that it became a positive shriek. "Oh! oh! oh! Who? who? What? what?"