“This day’s events have upset me more than you can imagine, child,” said he, passing his hand through his hair wearily. “That vixen Sarah has always seemed honest--and yet I don’t know what to believe.” “And, you know, the portmanteau I found in the cellar,” I whispered timidly. Mr. Rayner started. “Good Heaven, I had forgotten that! Or rather I had dismissed it from my mind as a fancy brought about by the excitement of Sarah’s accident, and hastily connected in your mind with your view of poor old Tom Parkes carrying a box across the lawn. Where are the store-room keys, child?” asked he excitedly. “We must go at once to the cellar, and-- Heaven help us if what I took for your fancy should prove to be the truth!” I tremblingly produced the keys, which I carried about with me; and, much against my will, I accompanied Mr. Rayner into the left wing. He took the keys from me; but he was so very excited that he could not find the right one to fit into the door, and I opened it for him. We crossed the store-room. There lay the black bag on one side of the trap-door, where I had put it down on catching sight of the little ring in the floor. I put my finger through this and raised it again, not without a shudder at the remembrance of my last visit, and Mr. Rayner went down hastily, while I held the candle for him to see by. “No, my child, I see nothing,” said he, as he peered about. “Look through the ladder; it is behind there,” said I. Mr. Rayner looked through it, then looked round it, stretched his arm out, and again raised his face to mine, this time however with a look of unutterable relief. “Thank Heaven, it was your fancy, child!” said he. “There is nothing there.” “Not a deal table?” I gasped. “No--nothing but water.” “Perhaps the water has risen higher and covered it?” “Come down yourself and see. Or are you afraid to come down again?” “No, I am not afraid,” said I uncertainly. He came up and took the candle from me, while I descended. The water, I knew by the number of steps which were dry above it, was at the same level as before. I looked through the ladder and round it. Table and portmanteau had utterly disappeared. As I looked up suddenly, Mr. Rayner’s face, distorted by the weird light thrown on it by the flickering candle, seemed to me to wear a mocking smile which made the handsome features hideous and alarming. “Let me come up,” said I sharply.