"So to say. He lived but a few minutes after help came: the tide was up, and they had to get to him in boats: just long enough to say some nearly incoherent words, to the effect of what I have told you. A night or two after that a man, living in the village, went on the plateau looking for the ghost, as was supposed, and he managed to miss his footing, fell over, and was killed. It was then that my father had the railings put; almost a superfluous caution, as it turned out, for the impression made on the neighbourhood by these two accidents was so great, and the plateau became so associated in men's minds with so much horror, that I think nobody would go on it at night unless compelled." "Lest they should see three ghosts instead of one," interrupted a light, careless voice at the back of the room. My lady started, Richard turned. It came from Isaac Thornycroft. He had come in unheard, the door was but half closed, and gathered the sense of what was passing. "Quite an appropriate atmosphere for ghostly stories," he said; "you are all in the dark here. Shall I ring for lights?" "Not yet," interposed my lady, hastily; "I want to hear more." "There's no more to hear," said Richard. "Yes there is. You cannot think how this interests me, Mr. Richard; but I want to know--I want to know what was the cause of the murder. _Can't_ you tell me?" Isaac Thornycroft had perched himself on the music-stool, his fair, gay, open face a very contrast just now to his brother's grave one. In the uncertain light he fancied that my lady looked to him with the last question, as if in appeal, and he answered it. "Richard can tell it if he likes." But it seemed that Richard aid not like. He had said the neighbourhood cared not to speak of this; most certainly _he did not_. It was remembered afterwards, when years had passed; and the strange fact was regarded as some subtle instinct lying far beyond the ken of man. But there was my lady casting her exacting looks towards him. "They were two brothers, the disputants, and the cause was said to be jealousy. Both loved the same woman, and she played them off one on the other. Hence the murder. Had I been the Nemesis I should have slain the woman after them." "Brothers!" repeated Lady Ellis. "It was a dreadful thing." Richard, quitting his place by the window, left the room. Isaac, who had been softly humming a tune to himself, brought it to a close. A broad smile sat on his face: it appeared evident to my lady that the superstition was regarded by him as fun rather than otherwise. She fell into thought. "You do not believe in the ghost, Mr. Isaac?" "I don't say that. I do not fear it." "Did you ever see it?" "Never so much as its shadow; but it is currently believed, you know, that some people are born without the gift of seeing ghosts." He laughed a merry laugh. My lady resumed in a low tone. "Is it not thought that your mother feared it? That it--it helped to kill her?"