"'There is no one here, my lord,' replied the man, 'but myself and my family; the castle is not inhabited.' "'That's bad news,' said the count; 'but nevertheless, you can give me what I am most in need of, and that is--shelter for the night.' "'Willingly,' said the man, 'if your lordship will put up with such accommodation as we can hastily prepare.' "'So,' said the count, 'I alighted and walked in; and the old man unbarred the great gates to admit my carriages and people. We found ourselves in an immense _couer_, with the castle _en face_, and stables and offices on each side. As we had a _fourgon_ with us, with provender for the cattle and provisions for ourselves, we wanted nothing but beds and a good fire; and as the only one lighted was in the old man's apartments, he first took us there. They consisted of a _suite_ of small rooms in the left wing, that had probably been formerly occupied by the upper servants. They were comfortably furnished, and he and his large family appeared to be very well lodged. Besides the wife, there were three sons, with their wives and children, and two nieces; and in a part of the offices, where I saw a light, I was told there were labourers and women servants, for it was a valuable estate, with a fine forest, and the sons acted as _gardes chasse_. "'Is there much game in the forest?' I asked. "'A great deal of all sorts,' they answered. "'Then I suppose during the season the family live here?' "'Never,' they replied. 'None of the family ever reside here.' "'Indeed!' I said; how is that? It seems a very fine place.' "'Superb,' answered the wife of the custodian; 'but the castle is haunted.' "She said this with a simple gravity that made me laugh; upon which they all stared at me with the most edifying amazement. "'I beg your pardon,' I said; 'but you know, perhaps, in great cities, such as I usually inhabit, there are no ghosts.' "'Indeed!' said they. 'No ghosts!' "'At least,' I said, 'I never heard of any; and we don't believe in such things.' "They looked at each other with surprise, but said nothing; not appearing to have any desire to convince me. 'But do you mean to say,' said I, 'that that is the reason the family don't live here, and that the castle is abandoned on that account?' "'Yes,' they replied, 'that is the reason nobody has resided here for many years.' "'But how can you live here then?' "'We are never troubled in this part of the building,' said she. 'We hear noises, but we are used to that.' "'Well, if there is a ghost, I hope I shall see it,' said I. "'God forbid!' said the woman, crossing herself. 'But we shall guard against that; your seigneurie will sleep not far from this, where you will be quite safe.' "'Oh! but,' said I, 'I am quite serious, if there is a ghost, I should particularly like to see him, and I should be much obliged to you to put me in the apartments he most frequents.'