"Came straight on, taking no notice whatsoever of me, until she reached the steps leading into the porch and garden.... She passed down these and out of my sight.... That is the plain statement of an actual fact. Have you any 'explanation' to offer?" "Well--what about a lady staying there, unexpectedly and unbeknownst (to the station), trying on a get-up for a Fancy Dress Ball. Going as 'My ancestress' or something?" suggested Mrs. Dearman. "Exactly what I told myself, though I _knew_ it was nothing of the kind.... Well, five minutes later Malet-Marsac rode up the drive and we were soon fraternizing over cheroots and cold drinks.... As I was leaving, an idea struck me, and I saw a way to ask a question--which was burning my tongue,--without being too rudely inquisitive. "'By the way,' said I, 'I fear I did not send in the right number of visiting cards, but they told me there was no lady here, so I only sent in one--for you.' "'There _is_ no lady here,' he replied, eyeing me queerly. 'What made you think you had been misinformed?' "'Well,' said I bluntly, 'a lady came out of the end room just now, walked down the verandah, and went out into the garden. You'd better see if anything is missing as she's not an inhabitant!' "'No--there won't be anything missing,' he replied. 'Did she wear a crinoline and a general air of last century?' "'She did,' said I. "'Our own private ghost,' was the answer--and it was the sort of statement I had anticipated. Now I solemnly assure you that at that time I had never heard, read, nor dreamed that there was a 'ghost' in this bungalow, nor in Duri--nor in the whole Northern Presidency for that matter.... "'What's the story?' I asked, of course. "'Mutiny. 1857,' said Malet-Marsac. 'Husband shot on the parade-ground. She got the news and marched straight to the spot. They cut her in pieces as she held his body in her arms. Lots of people have seen her--anywhere between that room and the parade-ground.' "'Then you have to believe in ghosts--in Duri, or how do you account for it?' I asked. "'I don't bother my head,' he replied. 'But I have seen that poor lady a good many times. And no one told me a word about her until after I had seen her.'" And then Mrs. Dearman suddenly rose, as her hostess "caught" the collective female eye of the table. "Was all that about the 'ghosts' of the old Irishwoman and the Early Victorian Lady true, you fellows?" asked John Bruce, the Professor of Engineering, after coffee, cigars and the second glass of port had reconciled the residue or sediment to the departure of the sterner sex. "Didn't you hear me say my story was true?" replied Colonel Jackson brusquely. "It was absolutely and perfectly true." "Same here," added Mr. Ross-Ellison. "Then on two separate occasions you two have seen what you can only believe to be the ghosts of dead people?" "On one occasion I have, without any possibility of error or doubt, seen the ghost of a dead person," said Colonel Jackson.