"But I _saw_ the ghost here," and Eve spoke with a quiet dignity that defied contradiction. "Of course you did," Wise assented. "The ghost came purposely to be seen." "Did you ever see one, Mr. Wise?" "I never did, Miss Carnforth, I never hope to see one! But I can tell you anyhow, I'd rather see than be one." "Oh, of course, if you're going to take that tone," and Eve turned away, decidedly offended. "Sorry!" and Wise flashed a smile at her. "But, you see, a detective can't afford to believe in ghosts. We make our living solving mysteries, and to say, 'It was the ghost! You're right, it was the ghost!' is by way of begging the question." "Then you think the phantoms that appeared to some of us were really human beings?" asked Tracy, interestedly. "I sure do." "And you propose to find out who and how?" said Braye. "If I live up to my reputation, I must do so. There are but two kinds of detectives. Effective detectives and defective detectives. It is the aim of my life to belong to the former class, and here's my chance to make good. Now, I've examined the upper floors, I'll look over this hall and the ground floor rooms. Shall I have time before dinner, Mrs. Landon?" His charm and pleasant personality had already won Milly's liking and she said, cordially, "Yes, indeed, Mr. Wise. And if you wish, we'll delay dinner to suit your pleasure." "Not at all. Done in a few minutes. Stunning hall, eh, Zizi?" "Yes," said the thin little voice of the thin little girl, and Milly suddenly realized that Zizi was present with the crowd. The graceful little figure stepped forward and stood at Wise's side as he looked the hall over. He tapped at the panelled walls, and smiled as he said, "Solid and intact. No secret passage or sliding panel,--of that I'm sure." "If you're trying to find a secret entrance into the house, Mr. Wise," Landon said, "you are wasting your time. I am more or less architecturally inclined, and I've tapped and sounded and measured and calculated,--and I can assure you there's nothing of the sort." "Good work! That saves me some trouble, I'm sure. Marvellous work on these doors, eh? And the bronze columns,--from abroad, I take it." "Yes;" Professor Hardwick said, slapping his hand against one of the fluted bronze pillars, "I admire these columns more than the doors even. They're unique, I don't wonder their owner 'built a house behind them.' I doubt if their match is in America." "And the locks and bolts are as ponderous as the doors," commented the detective. "Eh, Zizi?" "They are like that all over the house," said the girl, in a casual tone. "Even the kitchen quarters are as securely fastened and bolted. And upstairs, any doors that give on balconies are strongly guarded. I have never seen a house more carefully looked after in the matter of barricades." The girl spoke slowly, as if on the witness stand. Then suddenly her black eyes twinkled, and she turned sharply toward Eve, saying, "Oh, do _you_ do that, too?"