"Oh, I'm so glad!" she exclaimed. "Then we'll know the truth. But no!" and she turned wild with protest. "No, no! I know there are! It's dangerous, sir! You'd never come out alive! Unseen hands would seize you and draw you down and strangle you--those terrible spirits of the dark ages!" Her hands uplifted, fingers stretched apart in terror, lace white with fear, Minna's distress was real--very real, indeed!--while she listened impatiently for Marta's step in the adjoining room. "Good heavens!" exclaimed Bouchard in disgust. "I didn't know such superstition existed in this day." "I didn't, sir, until the groans and the clanking of the chains kept me awake," replied Minna. "Have you a lantern?" asked Bouchard in exasperation. "A lantern?" repeated Minna blankly. Time! time! She must gain time! "Yes, you gawk, a lantern!" "Certainly; you'll need one," said Minna--"a big one! Go and fetch a big army one--and some soldiers to fight the ghosts. But what are soldiers against ghosts? Oh, sir, I don't like to think of you going at all. Please, sir, don't, for the sake of your life!" There Bouchard frowned heavily and his hawk eyes flashed in command and decision. "Enough of this farce! A lamp, a candle will do. Come, get me one immediately!" Just as she was at her wits' end and it seemed as if there were nothing left to do but to scream and fall in a faint in front of Bouchard, her ear caught the welcome sound which told her that Marta had returned from the tunnel. "Yes, sir. Won't you come in, sir? Of course, sir," she said, standing aside. "Won't you be seated, sir?" "Good day, Colonel Bouchard!" called Marta, appearing in the doorway. "He wants to go into the dungeons to see the ghosts!" Minna exclaimed in a return of horror before Bouchard had time to say a word, while she screwed up the side of her face away from him suggestively to Marta. "Those terrible ghosts! I'm afraid for him. Like a man, he may go right into the dungeons, even if you didn't dare to, Miss Galland." "I wish he would!" Marta joined in eagerly. "That might cure you of your silly imaginings, Minna. She actually thinks, Colonel Bouchard, that she hears them groan and moan and even shriek. Didn't you say they shrieked as well as groaned and moaned once about 3 A.M.?" she asked jocularly. "A ghost must be hard put to it when he shrieks," observed Bouchard, glaring from one to the other. "It's all very well for you to make fun of me because you have the advantage of an education," said Minna to Marta, "but you yourself--you--"