Reignald. You touched it then? Old Lionel. I tell thee yet I did. Reignald. Oh, for the love I bear you-- O me most miserable! you, for your own sake, Of all alive most wretched!--did you touch it? Old Lionel. Why, say I did? Reignald. You have then a sin committed, No sacrifice can expiate, to the dead; But yet I hope you did not. Old Lionel. ’Tis past hope; The deed is done, and I repent it not. Reignald. You and all yours will do’t. In this one rashness, You have undone us all: pray be not desperate, But first thank Heaven that you have escaped thus well. Come from the gate--yet further, further yet-- And tempt your fate no more; command your servants Give off and come no nearer; they are ignorant, And do not know the danger, therefore pity That they should perish in’t. ’Tis full seven months Since any of your house durst once set foot Over that threshold. Old Lionel. Prithee speak the cause? Reignald. First look about; beware that no man hear; Command these to remove. Old Lionel. Begone.--[_Exeunt_ Servants _and_ Watermen].--Now speak. Reignald. Oh, sir, this house is grown prodigious,[3.24] Fatal, disastrous unto you and yours. Old Lionel. What fatal? what disastrous? Reignald. Some host, that hath been owner of this house, In it his guest hath slain; and we suspect ’Twas he of whom you bought it. Old Lionel. How came this Discovered to you first? Reignald. I’ll tell you, sir; But further from the gate. Your son one night Supped late abroad, I within--oh, that night I never shall forget! Being safe got home, I saw him in his chamber laid to rest; And after went to mine, and, being drowsy, Forgot by chance to put the candle out: Being dead asleep, your son, affrighted, calls So loud that I soon wakened, brought in light, And found him almost drowned in fearful sweat; Amazed to see’t, I did demand the cause, Who told me that this murdered ghost appeared, His body gashed, and all o’er-stuck with wounds, And spake to him as follows. Old Lionel. Oh, proceed; ’Tis that I long to hear. Reignald. “I am,” quoth he, “A transmarine by birth, who came well stored With gold and jewels to this fatal house, Where, seeking safety, I encountered death: The covetous merchant, landlord of this rent, To whom I gave my life and wealth in charge, Freely to enjoy the one, robbed me of both: Here was my body buried, here my ghost Must ever walk, till that have Christian right; Till when, my habitation must be here. Then fly, young man; remove thy family, And seek some safer dwelling; for my death This mansion is accursed; ’tis my possession, Bought at the dear rate of my life and blood: None enter here, that aims at his own good.” And with this charge he vanished. Old Lionel. O my fear! Whither wilt thou transport me? Reignald. I entreat Keep further from the gate, and fly.