"Devereux closed the cupboard again, after carefully examining it to make sure nothing had been left behind. He marked the exact spot where he had pressed the spring so as to find it at any time. Then we all left the round room, locking the door securely after us. "Miles and I spent that night at Hallinger. We sat up late talking it all over. There are some queer inconsistencies about the thing which will probably never be explained. First and foremost--why has the ghost stuck to the tapestry instead of to the actual spot he seemed to have wished to reveal? Secondly, what was the connection between his visits and the full moon--or is it that only by the moonlight the shade becomes perceptible to human sense? Who can say? "As to the story itself--what was old Devereux's motive in concealing his own ring? Were the marked cards his, or his opponent's, of which he had managed to possess himself, and had secreted as testimony against the other fellow? "I incline, and so does Miles, to this last theory, and when we suggested it to Devereux, I could see it was a relief to him. After all, one likes to think one's ancestors were gentlemen! "'But what, then, has he been worrying about all this century or more?' he said. 'If it were that he wanted the ring returned to its real owner--supposing the fellow _had_ won it--I could understand it, though such a thing would be impossible. There is no record of the man at all--his name was never mentioned in the story.' "'He may want the ring restored to its proper owner all the same,' said Miles. 'You are its owner, as the head of the family, and it has been your ancestor's fault that it has been hidden all these years. Besides, we cannot take upon ourselves to explain motives in such a case. Perhaps--who knows?--the poor shade could not help himself. His peregrinations may have been of the nature of punishment.' "'I hope they are over now,' said Devereux, 'for his sake and everybody else's. I should be glad to think he wanted the ring restored to us, but besides that, I should like to do something--something _good_ you know--if it would make him easier, poor old chap. I must consult Lilias.' Lilias is Mrs. Devereux. "This is all I have to tell you at present, Leila. When I come home we'll have the _portières_ up again and see what happens. I want you now to read all this to my father, and if he has no objection--he and my mother, of course--I should like to invite Captain and Mrs. Devereux to stay a few days with us--as well as Miles, as soon as I come back." Philip's wish was acceded to. It was with no little anxiety and interest that we awaited his return.