CHAPTER XXXIX. BOB’S SPECTRE. It was about to speak when the cock crew, And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons.—SHAKSPEARE. “Come into the library, if you please, Dr. Burney. I wish to send for old Bob, and confront him with you, and clear up this mystery of the midnight visitor,” said Justin, leading the way to the favorite room. “Nonsense, my young friend. There is no mystery in the matter. Our honest old Bob supped off pork chops and had the nightmare and dreamed of a visitor,” laughed the doctor, as he followed the colonel. “These two persons of very opposite characters and positions must have had the nightmare at the same time and dreamed the same dream,” said Justin, as he opened the library door. When the two gentlemen entered this favorite room, they found Britomarte and Elfie, waiting for the termination of the doctor’s visit to Erminie before they should return to her side. They now arose and received the doctor’s greetings and congratulations upon the convalescence of their friend, and then they were about to withdraw, when Justin stopped them. “Remain, if you please, for a few moments, young ladies. I am about to call up old Robert and confront him with Dr. Burney and investigate this affair of the nocturnal visitor,” he said. “But I thought that was already settled. It was the doctor who came in the night, was it not?” inquired Britomarte. “No, my dear Miss Conyers, whoever it was, it was not the doctor,” replied the gentleman in question. Justin rang the bell, and old Bob answered it. “Sit down, doctor. Young ladies, pray resume your seats,” said Justin, as he set the example by placing himself in a chair. Bob stood in the door, waiting orders. “Come here,” said Colonel Rosenthal. The man obeyed, looking puzzled and frightened and very much like a prisoner who was arraigned and who expected to be found guilty. “Now tell us who it was that you let in last night.” “The doctor there, sar,” answered Bob, without a moment’s hesitation. “My good friend, you never were more mistaken in your life. I can prove an alibi. I was six miles from the spot at the hour you admitted the visitor,” said Dr. Burney. Old Bob’s jaws dropped and his eyes opened. “Is that so, sar?” he asked, in a piteous tone. “Yes, that _is_ so. Now try to recollect yourself and reflect whether you did not fall asleep and dream the whole thing.” “No, marser! no, sar! it might a been de debbil, or it might a been a ghost, or it might a been a token of my death, but it warn’t no dream. Dis chile war too wide awake for dat!” exclaimed Bob, as his hair seemed to straighten out with a retrospective terror. “Now see you here, Bob. Look at me, and tell me really whether the person you admitted, or think you admitted, resembled me,” said Dr. Burney.