第5章

MyadherentRooke，whohasfaithfullyservedmefornearlyfortyyears，andhasgoneonmybehalfonmanyperilousexpeditions，will，Itrust，serveyouinthesameway。Treathimwellformysake，ifnotforyourown。Ihavelefthimprovisionforalifeofease；buthewouldrathertakeapartindangerousenterprises。Heissilentasthegraveandasboldasalion。Heknowseverydetailofthefortificationandofthesecretmeansofdefence。Awordinyourear——hewasonceapirate。Hewastheninhisextremeyouth，andlongsincechangedhiswaysinthisrespect；butfromthisfactyoucanunderstandhisnature。Youwillfindhimusefulshouldoccasioneverarise。Shouldyouaccepttheconditionsofmyletter，youaretomaketheBlueMountains——inpart，atleast——yourhome，livingthereapartoftheyear，ifonlyforaweek，asinEnglandmenofmanyestatessharethetimeamongstthem。Tothisyouarenotbound，andnooneshallhavepowertocompelyouorinterferewithyou。I

onlyexpressahope。ButonethingIdomorethanhope——Idesire，ifyouwillhonourmywishes，that，comewhatmay，youaretokeepyourBritishnationality，unlessbyspecialarrangementwithandconsentofthePrivyCouncil。Sucharrangementtobeformallymadebymyfriend，EdwardBinghamTrent，orwhomsoeverhemayappointbydeedorwilltoactinthematter，andmadeinsuchawaythatnoactsavethataloneofParliamentinallitsestates，andendorsedbytheKing，mayorcanprevailagainstit。

Mylastwordtoyouis，Beboldandhonest，andfearnot。Mostthings——evenkingship——SOMEWHEREmaynowandagainbewonbythesword。Abraveheartandastrongarmmaygofar。Butwhateverissowoncannotbeheldmerelybythesword。Justicealonecanholdinthelongrun。Wherementrusttheywillfollow，andtherankandfileofpeoplewanttofollow，nottolead。Ifitbeyourfortunetolead，bebold。Bewary，ifyouwill；exerciseanyotherfacultiesthatmayaidorguard。Shrinkfromnothing。Avoidnothingthatishonourableinitself。Takeresponsibilitywhensuchpresentsitself。

Whatothersshrinkfrom，accept。Thatistobegreatinwhatworld，littleorbig，youmove。Fearnothing，nomatterofwhatkinddangermaybeorwhenceitcome。Theonlyrealwaytomeetdangeristodespiseit——exceptwithyourbrains。Meetitinthegate，notthehall。

Mykinsman，thenameofmyraceandyourown，worthilymingledinyourownperson，nowrestswithyou！

LetterfromRupertSentLeger，32BodminStreet，Victoria，S。W。，toMissJanetMacKelpie，Croom，Ross—shire。

January3，1907。

MYDEARESTAUNTJANET，Youwill，Iknow，berejoicedtohearofthegreatgood—fortunewhichhascometomethroughtheWillofUncleRoger。PerhapsSirColinwillhavewrittentoyou，asheisoneoftheexecutors，andthereisabequesttoyou，soImustnotspoilhispleasureoftellingyouofthatparthimself。Unfortunately，Iamnotfreetospeakfullyofmyownlegacyyet，butIwantyoutoknowthatatworstIamtoreceiveanamountmanytimesmorethanIeverdreamtofpossessingthroughanypossiblestrokeoffortune。SosoonasIcanleaveLondon——

where，ofcourse，Imustremainuntilthingsaresettled——IamcominguptoCroomtoseeyou，andIhopeIshallbythenbeabletoletyouknowsomuchthatyouwillbeabletoguessattheextraordinarychangethathascometomycircumstances。Itisalllikeanimpossibledream：thereisnothinglikeitinthe"ArabianNights。"

However，thedetailsmustwait，Iampledgedtosecrecyforthepresent。Andyoumustbepledgedtoo。Youwon’tmind，dear，willyou？WhatIwanttodoatpresentismerelytotellyouofmyowngood—fortune，andthatIshallbegoingpresentlytoliveforawhileatVissarion。Won’tyoucomewithme，AuntJanet？WeshalltalkmoreofthiswhenIcometoCroom；butIwantyoutokeepthesubjectinyourmind。

YourlovingRUPERT。

FromRupertSentLeger’sJournal。

January4，1907。

ThingshavebeenhummingaboutmesofastthatIhavehadhardlytimetothink。Butsomeofthethingshavebeensoimportant，andhavesochangedmyentireoutlookonlife，thatitmaybewelltokeepsomepersonalrecordofthem。Imaysomedaywanttoremembersomedetail——perhapsthesequenceofevents，orsomethinglikethat——anditmaybeuseful。Itoughttobe，ifthereisanyjusticeinthings，foritwillbeanawfulswottowriteitwhenIhavesomanythingstothinkofnow。AuntJanet，Isuppose，willliketokeepitlockedupforme，asshedoeswithallmyjournalsandpapers。ThatisonegoodthingaboutAuntJanetamongstmany：shehasnocuriosity，orelseshehassomeotherqualitywhichkeepsherfrompryingasotherwomenwould。Itwouldseemthatshehasnotsomuchasopenedthecoverofoneofmyjournalseverinherlife，andthatshewouldnotwithoutmypermission。Sothiscanintimegotoheralso。

IdinedlastnightwithMr。Trent，byhisspecialdesire。Thedinnerwasinhisownrooms。Dinnersentinfromthehotel。Hewouldnothaveanywaitersatall，butmadethemsendinthedinnerallatonce，andwehelpedourselves。Aswewerequitealone，wecouldtalkfreely，andwegotoveralotofgroundwhileweweredining。HebegantotellmeaboutUncleRoger。Iwasgladofthat，for，ofcourse，IwantedtoknowallIcouldofhim，andthefactwasIhadseenverylittleofhim。Ofcourse，whenIwasasmallkidhewasofteninourhouse，forhewasveryfondofmother，andsheofhim。

ButIfancythatasmallboywasratheranuisancetohim。AndthenIwasatschool，andhewasawayintheEast。AndthenpoormotherdiedwhilehewaslivingintheBlueMountains，andIneversawhimagain。WhenIwrotetohimaboutAuntJanetheansweredmeverykindlybuthewassoveryjustinthematterthatIgotafraidofhim。AndafterthatIranaway，andhavebeenroamingeversince；sotherewasneverachanceofourmeeting。Butthatletterofhishasopenedmyeyes。Tothinkofhimfollowingmethatwayallovertheworld，waitingtoholdoutahelpinghandifIshouldwantit，IonlywishIhadknown，orevensuspected，thesortofmanhewas，andhowhecaredforme，andIwouldsometimeshavecomebacktoseehim，ifIhadtocomehalfroundtheworld。Well，allIcandonowistocarryouthiswishes；thatwillbemyexpiationformyneglect。Heknewwhathewantedexactly，andIsupposeIshallcomeintimetoknowitallandunderstandit，too。

IwasthinkingsomethinglikethiswhenMr。Trentbegantotalk，sothatallhesaidfittedexactlyintomyownthought。Thetwomenwereevidentlygreatfriends——Ishouldhavegatheredthat，anyhow，fromtheWill——andtheletters——soIwasnotsurprisedwhenMr。Trenttoldmethattheyhadbeentoschooltogether，UncleRogerbeingaseniorwhenhewasajunior；andhadthenandeveraftersharedeachother’sconfidence。Mr。Trent，Igathered，hadfromtheveryfirstbeeninlovewithmymother，evenwhenshewasalittlegirl；buthewaspoorandshy，anddidnotliketospeak。Whenhehadmadeuphismindtodoso，hefoundthatshehadbythenmetmyfather，andcouldnothelpseeingthattheylovedeachother。Sohewassilent。Hetoldmehehadneversaidawordaboutittoanyone——noteventomyUncleRoger，thoughheknewfromonethingandanother，thoughheneverspokeofit，thathewouldlikeit。Icouldnothelpseeingthatthedearoldmanregardedmeinasortofparentalway——Ihaveheardofsuchromanticattachmentsbeingtransferredtothelatergeneration。Iwasnotdispleasedwithit；onthecontrary，Ilikedhimbetterforit。Ilovemymothersomuch——Ialwaysthinkofherinthepresent——thatIcannotthinkofherasdead。Thereisatiebetweenanyoneelsewholovedherandmyself。ItriedtoletMr。

TrentseethatIlikedhim，anditpleasedhimsomuchthatIcouldseehislikingformegrowinggreater。Beforewepartedhetoldmethathewasgoingtogiveupbusiness。HemusthaveunderstoodhowdisappointedIwas——forhowcouldIevergetalongatallwithouthim？——forhesaid，ashelaidahandquiteaffectionately，Ithought—

—onmyshoulder：

"Ishallhaveoneclient，though，whosebusinessIalwayshopetokeep，andforwhomIshallbealwayswhilstIlivegladtoact——ifhewillhaveme。"IdidnotcaretospeakasItookhishand。Hesqueezedmine，too，andsaidveryearnestly：

"Iservedyouruncle’sintereststotheverybestofmyabilityfornearlyfiftyyears。Hehadfullconfidenceinme，andIwasproudofhistrust。Icanhonestlysay，Rupert——youwon’tmindmeusingthatfamiliarity，willyou？——that，thoughtheinterestswhichIguardedweresovastthatwithoutabusingmytrustIcouldoftenhaveusedmyknowledgetomypersonaladvantage，Ineveronce，inlittlemattersorbig，abusedthattrust——no，notevenrubbedthebloomoffit。AndnowthathehasrememberedmeinhisWillsogenerouslythatIneedworknomore，itwillbeaverygenuinepleasureandpridetometocarryoutaswellasIcanthewishesthatIpartlyknew，andnowrealizemorefullytowardsyou，hisnephew。"

Inthelongchatwhichwehad，andwhichlastedtillmidnight，hetoldmemanyveryinterestingthingsaboutUncleRoger。When，inthecourseofconversation，hementionedthatthefortuneUncleRogerleftmustbewelloverahundredmillions，IwassosurprisedthatI

saidoutloud——Ididnotmeantoaskaquestion：

"Howonearthcouldamanbeginningwithnothingrealizesuchagiganticfortune？"

"Byallhonestways，"heanswered，"andhiscleverhumaninsight。Heknewonehalfoftheworld，andsokeptabreastofallpublicandnationalmovementsthatheknewthecriticalmomenttoadvancemoneyrequired。Hewasalwaysgenerous，andalwaysonthesideoffreedom。

Therearenationsatthismomentonlynowenteringontheconsolidationoftheirliberty，whoowealltohim，whoknewwhenandhowtohelp。Nowonderthatinsomelandstheywilldrinktohismemoryongreatoccasionsastheyusedtodrinkhishealth。"

"AsyouandIshalldonow，sir！"Isaid，asIfilledmyglassandstoodup。Wedrankitinbumpers。Wedidnotsayaword，eitherofus；buttheoldgentlemanheldouthishand，andItookit。Andso，holdinghands，wedrankinsilence。Itmademefeelquitechoky；andIcouldseethathe，too，wasmoved。

FromE。B。Trent’sMemoranda。

January4，1907。

IaskedMr。RupertSentLegertodinewithmeatmyofficealone，asIwishedtohaveachatwithhim。To—morrowSirColinandIwillhaveaformalmeetingwithhimforthesettlementofaffairs，butI

thoughtitbesttohaveaninformaltalkwithhimalonefirst，asI

wishedtotellhimcertainmatterswhichwillmakeourmeetingto—

morrowmoreproductiveofutility，ashecannowhavemorefullunderstandingofthesubjectswhichwehavetodiscuss。SirColinisallthatcanbeinmanhood，andIcouldwishnobettercolleagueintheexecutorshipofthisphenomenalWill；buthehasnothadtheprivilegeofalifelongfriendshipwiththetestatorasIhavehad。

AndasRupertSentLegerhadtolearnintimatedetailsregardinghisuncle，Icouldbestmakemyconfidencesalone。To—morrowweshallhaveplentyofformality。IwasdelightedwithRupert。HeisjustwhatIcouldhavewishedhismother’sboytobe——orasonofmyowntobe，hadIhadthegood—fortunetohavebeenafather。Butthisisnotforme。Irememberlong，longagoreadingapassageinLamb’sEssayswhichhangsinmymind："ThechildrenofAlicecallBartrumfather。"SomeofmyoldfriendswouldlaughtoseeMEwritethis，butthesememorandaareformyeyesalone，andnooneshallseethemtillaftermydeath，unlessbymyownpermission。Theboytakessomequalitiesafterhisfather；hehasadaringthatisdisturbingtoanolddryasdustlawyerlikeme。ButsomehowIlikehimmorethanI

everlikedanyone——anyman——inmylife——moreeventhanhisuncle，myoldfriend，RogerMelton；andLordknowsIhadmuchcausetolikehim。Ihavemorethanevernow。Itwasquitedelightfultoseethewaytheyoungadventurerwastouchedbyhisuncle’sthoughtofhim。

Heisatrulygallantfellow，butventuresomeexploitshavenotaffectedthegoodnessofheart。ItisapleasuretometothinkthatRogerandColincametogetheraproposoftheboy’sthoughtfulgenerositytowardsMissMacKelpie。Theoldsoldierwillbeagoodfriendtohim，orIammuchmistaken。Withanoldlawyerlikeme，andanoldsoldierlikehim，andarealoldgentlewomanlikeMissMacKelpie，wholovestheverygroundhewalkson，tolookafterhim，togetherwithallhisownfinequalitiesandhismarvellousexperienceoftheworld，andthegiganticwealththatwillsurelybehis，thatyoungmanwillgofar。

LetterfromRupertSentLegertoMissJanetMacKelpie，Croom。

January5，1907。

MYDEARESTAUNTJANET，Itisallover——thefirststageofit；andthatisasfarasIcangetatpresent。Ishallhavetowaitforafewdays——oritmaybeweeks——inLondonforthedoingofcertainthingsnownecessitatedbymyacceptanceofUncleRoger’sbequest。ButassoonasIcan，dear，IshallcomedowntoCroomandspendwithyouasmanydaysaspossible。IshallthentellyouallIamatlibertytotell，andI

shallthankyoupersonallyforyourconsenttocomewithmetoVissarion。Oh，howIwishmydearmotherhadlivedtobewithus！

Itwouldhavemadeherhappy，Iknow，tohavecome；andthenwethreewhosharedtogethertheolddear，harddayswouldhavesharedinthesamewaythenewsplendour。Iwouldtrytoshowallmyloveandgratitudetoyouboth……Youmusttakethewholeburdenofitnow，dear，foryouandIarealone。No，notalone，asweusedtobe，forIhavenowtwooldfriendswhoarealreadydeartome。Oneissotoyoualready。SirColinissimplysplendid，andso，inhisownway，isMr。Trent。Iamlucky，AuntJanet，tohavetwosuchmentothinkofaffairsforme。AmInot？IshallsendyouawireassoonaseverIcanseemywaytogetthroughmywork；andIwantyoutothinkoverallthethingsyoueverwishedforinyourlife，sothatImay——

ifthereisanymortalwayofdoingso——getthemforyou。Youwillnotstandinthewayofmyhavingthisgreatpleasure，willyou，dear？Good—bye。

YourlovingRUPERT。

E。B。Trent’sMemoranda。

January6，1907。

TheformalmeetingofSirColinandmyselfwithRupertSentLegerwentoffquitesatisfactorily。Fromwhathehadsaidyesterday，andagainlastnight，IhadalmostcometoexpectanunreservedacceptanceofeverythingstatedorimpliedinRogerMelton’sWill；

butwhenwehadsatroundthetable——thisappeared，bytheway，tobeaformalityforwhichwewereallprepared，forwesatdownasifbyinstinct——theveryfirstwordshesaidwere：

"AsIsupposeImustgothroughthisformality，ImayaswellsayatoncethatIaccepteverypossibleconditionwhichwasinthemindofUncleRoger；andtothisendIampreparedtosign，seal，anddeliver——orwhateveristheritual——whateverdocumentyou，sir"——

turningtome——"maythinknecessaryoradvisable，andofwhichyoubothapprove。"Hestoodupandwalkedabouttheroomforafewmoments，SirColinandIsittingquitestill，silent。Hecamebacktohisseat，andafterafewsecondsofnervousness——ararethingwithhim，Ifancy——said："Ihopeyoubothunderstand——ofcourse，I

knowyoudo；Ionlyspeakbecausethisisanoccasionforformality——

thatIamwillingtoaccept，andatonce！Idoso，believeme，nottogetpossessionofthisvastfortune，butbecauseofhimwhohasgivenit。Themanwhowasfondofme，andwhotrustedme，andyethadstrengthtokeephisownfeelingsincheck——whofollowedmeinspirittofarlandsanddesperateadventures，andwho，thoughhemightbeacrosstheworldfromme，wasreadytoputoutahandtosaveorhelpme，wasnocommonman；andhiscareofmymother’ssonmeantnocommonloveformydearmother。AndsosheandItogetheraccepthistrust，comeofitwhatmay。Ihavebeenthinkingitoverallnight，andallthetimeIcouldnotgetoutoftheideathatmotherwassomewherenearme。TheonlythoughtthatcoulddebarmefromdoingasIwishedtodo——andintendtodo——wouldbethatshewouldnotapprove。NowthatIamsatisfiedshewouldapprove，I

accept。Whatevermayresultorhappen，Ishallgoonfollowingthecoursethathehassetforme。Sohelpme，God！"SirColinstoodup，andImustsayamoremartialfigureIneversaw。Hewasinfulluniform，forhewasgoingontotheKing’sleveeafterourbusiness。

HedrewhisswordfromthescabbardandlaiditnakedonthetablebeforeRupert，andsaid：

"Youaregoing，sir，intoastrangeanddangercountry——Ihavebeenreadingaboutitsincewemet——andyouwillbelargelyaloneamongstfiercemountaineerswhoresenttheverypresenceofastranger，andtowhomyouare，andmustbe，one。Ifyoushouldeverbeinanytroubleandwantamantostandbacktobackwithyou，Ihopeyouwillgivemethehonour！"Ashesaidthispointedtohissword。

RupertandIwerealsostandingnow——onecannotsitdowninthepresenceofsuchanactasthat。"Youare，Iamproudtosay，alliedwithmyfamily：andIonlywishtoGoditwasclosertomyself。"

Ruperttookhimbythehandandbenthisheadbeforehimasanswered：

"Thehonourismine，SirColin；andnogreatercancometoanymanthanthatwhichyouhavejustdoneme。ThebestwayIcanshowhowI

valueitwillbetocallonyouifIameverinsuchatightplace。

ByJove，sir，thisishistoryrepeatingitself。AuntJanetusedtotellmewhenIwasayoungsterhowMacKelpieofCroomlaidhisswordbeforePrinceCharlie。IhopeImaytellherofthis；itwouldmakehersoproudandhappy。Don’timagine，sir，thatIamthinkingmyselfaCharlesEdward。ItisonlythatAuntJanetissogoodtomethatImightwellthinkIwas。"

SirColinbowedgrandly：

"RupertSentLeger，mydearnieceisawomanofgreatdiscretionanddiscernment。And，moreover，IamthinkingshehasinhersomeofthegiftofSecondSightthathasbeenaheritageofourblood。AndIamonewithmyniece——ineverything！"Thewholethingwasquiteregalinmanner；itseemedtotakemebacktothedaysofthePretender。

Itwasnot，however，atimeforsentiment，butforaction——wehadmetregardingthefuture，notthepast；soIproducedtheshortdocumentIhadalreadyprepared。OnthestrengthofhissteadfastdeclarationthathewouldacceptthetermsoftheWillandthesecretletters，I

hadgotreadyaformalacceptance。WhenIhadonceagainformallyaskedMr。SentLeger’swishes，andhehaddeclaredhiswishtoaccept，Igotinacoupleofmyclerksaswitnesses。

Then，havingagainaskedhimintheirpresenceifitwashiswishtodeclareacceptanceoftheconditions，thedocumentwassignedandwitnessed，SirColinandIbothappendingoursignaturestotheAttestation。

AndsothefirststageofRupertSentLeger’sinheritanceiscompleted。ThenextstepwillnothavetobeundertakenonmypartuntiltheexpirationofsixmonthsfromhisentryonhisestateatVissarion。Asheannounceshisintentionofgoingwithinafortnight，thiswillmeanpracticallyalittleoversixmonthsfromnow。

BOOKII：VISSARION

LetterfromRupertSentLeger，CastleofVissarion，theSpearofIvan，LandoftheBlueMountains，toMissJanetMacKelpie，CroomCastle，Ross—shire，N。B。

January23，1907。

MYDEARESTAUNTJANET，Asyousee，Iamhereatlast。Havinggotmyformaldutydone，asyoumademepromise——mylettersreportingarrivaltoSirColinandMr。Trentarelyingsealedinfrontofmereadytopost（fornothingshallgobeforeyours）——Iamfreetospeaktoyou。

Thisisamostlovelyplace，andIhopeyouwilllikeit。Iamquitesureyouwill。WepasseditinthesteamercomingfromTriestetoDurazzo。Iknewthelocalityfromthechart，anditwaspointedouttomebyoneoftheofficerswithwhomIhadbecomequitefriendly，andwhokindlyshowedmeinterestingplaceswheneverwegotwithinsightofshore。TheSpearofIvan，onwhichtheCastlestands，isaheadlandrunningwelloutintothesea。Itisquiteapeculiarplace——asortofheadlandonaheadland，juttingoutintoadeep，widebay，sothat，thoughitisapromontory，itisasfarawayfromthetrafficofcoastlifeasanythingyoucanconceive。Themainpromontoryistheendofarangeofmountains，andloomsupvast，toweringovereverything，amassofsapphireblue。Icanwellunderstandhowthecountrycametobecalledthe"LandoftheBlueMountains，"foritisallmountains，andtheyareallblue！Thecoast—lineismagnificent——whatiscalled"iron—bound"——beingallrocky；sometimesgreatfrowningprecipices；sometimesjuttingspursofrock；againlittlerockyislets，nowandagaincladwithtreesandverdure，atotherplacesstarkandbare。Elsewherearelittlerockybaysandindentations——alwaysrock，andoftenwithlong，interestingcaves。Someoftheshoresofthebaysaresandy，orelseridgesofbeautifulpebbles，wherethewavesmakeendlessmurmur。

ButofalltheplacesIhaveseen——inthislandoranyother——themostabsolutelybeautifulisVissarion。Itstandsattheultimatepointofthepromontory——Imeanthelittle，or，rather，lesserpromontory——thatcontinuesonthespurofthemountainrange。Forthelesserpromontoryorextensionofthemountainisinrealityvast；thelowestbitofcliffalongthesea—frontisnotlessthanacoupleofhundredfeethigh。Thatpointofrockisreallyverypeculiar。IthinkDameNaturemust，intheearlydaysofherhousekeeping——or，rather，house—BUILDING——haveintendedtogiveherlittlechild，man，arudimentarylessoninself—protection。ItisjustanaturalbastionsuchasatitanicVaubanmighthavedesignedinprimevaltimes。SofarastheCastleisconcerned，itisalonevisiblefromthesea。Anyenemyapproachingcouldseeonlythatfrowningwallofblackrock，ofvastheightandperpendicularsteepness。Eventheoldfortificationswhichcrownitarenotbuilt，butcutinthesolidrock。Alongnarrowcreekofverydeepwater，walledinbyhigh，steepcliffs，runsinbehindtheCastle，bendingnorthandwest，makingsafeandsecretanchorage。Intothecreekfallsoveraprecipiceamountain—stream，whichneverfailsinvolumeofwater。OnthewesternshoreofthatcreekistheCastle，ahugepileofbuildingsofeverystyleofarchitecture，fromtheTwelfthcenturytowheresuchthingsseemedtostopinthisdearold—worldland——aboutthetimeofQueenElizabeth。Soitisprettypicturesque。Icantellyou。Whenwegotthefirstglimpseoftheplacefromthesteamertheofficer，withwhomIwasonthebridge，pointedtowardsitandsaid：

"Thatiswherewesawthedeadwomanfloatinginacoffin。"Thatwasratherinteresting，soIaskedhimallaboutit。Hetookfromhispocket—bookacuttingfromanItalianpaper，whichhehandedtome。

AsIcanreadandspeakItalianfairlywell，itwasallright；butasyou，mydearAuntJanet，arenotskilledinlanguages，andasIdoubtifthereisanyassistanceofthekindtobehadatCroom，Idonotsendit。ButasIhaveheardthattheitemhasbeenproducedinthelastnumberofTheJournalofOccultism，youwillbeeasilyabletogetit。Ashehandedmethecuttinghesaid："IamDestilia！"HisstorywassostrangethatIaskedhimagoodmanyquestionsaboutit。

Heansweredmequitefranklyoneverypoint，butalwaysadheringstoutlytothemainpoint——namely，thatitwasnophantomormirage，nodreamorimperfectvisioninafog。"Wewerefourinallwhosawit，"hesaid——"threefromthebridgeandtheEnglishman，Caulfield——

fromthebows——whoseaccountexactlyagreedwithwhatwesaw。

CaptainMirolaniandFalamanoandIwereallawakeandingoodtrim。

Welookedwithournight—glasses，whicharemorethanusuallypowerful。Youknow，weneedgoodglassesfortheeastshoreoftheAdriaticandforamongtheislandstothesouth。Therewasafullmoonandabrilliantlight。Ofcoursewewerealittlewayoff，forthoughtheSpearofIvanisindeepwater，onehastobecarefulofcurrents，foritisinjustsuchplacesthatthedangerouscurrentsrun。"TheagentofLloyd’stoldmeonlyafewweeksagothatitwasonlyafteraprolongedinvestigationofthetidalandseacurrentsthatthehousedecidedtoexceptfromordinaryseariskslossesduetoatooclosecoursebytheSpearofIvan。WhenItriedtogetalittlemoredefiniteaccountofthecoffin—boatandthedeadladythatisgiveninTheJournalofOccultismhesimplyshruggedhisshoulders。"Signor，itisall，"hesaid。"ThatEnglishmanwroteeverythingafterendlessquestioning。"

Soyousee，mydear，thatournewhomeisnotwithoutsuperstitiousinterestsofitsown。Itisratheraniceidea，isitnot，tohaveadeadwomancruisingroundourpromontoryinacoffin？IdoubtifevenatCroomyoucanbeatthat。"Makestheplacekindofhomey，"asanAmericanwouldsay。Whenyoucome，AuntJanet，youwillnotfeellonesome，atanyrate，anditwillsaveusthetroubleofimportingsomeofyourHighlandghoststomakeyoufeelathomeinthenewland。Idon’tknow，butwemightaskthestifftocometoteawithus。Ofcourse，itwouldbealatetea。Somewherebetweenmidnightandcock—crowwouldbeabouttheetiquetteofthething，Ifancy！

ButImusttellyoualltherealitiesoftheCastleandaroundit。

SoIwillwriteagainwithinadayortwo，andtrytoletyouknowenoughtoprepareyouforcominghere。Tillthenadieu，mydear。

YourlovingRUPERT。

FromRupertSentLeger，Vissarion，toJanetMacKelpie，Croom。

January25，1907。

IhopeIdidnotfrightenyou，dearAuntJanet，bytheyarnoftheladyinthecoffin。ButIknowyouarenotafraid；youhavetoldmetoomanyweirdstoriesformetodreadthat。Besides，youhaveSecondSight——latent，atallevents。However，therewon’tbeanymoreghosts，oraboutghosts，inthisletter。Iwanttotellyouallaboutournewhome。Iamsogladyouarecomingoutsosoon；Iambeginningtofeelsolonesome——Iwalkaboutsometimesaimlessly，andfindmythoughtsdriftinginsuchanoddway。IfIdidn’tknowbetter，ImightbegintothinkIwasinlove！Thereisnooneheretobeinlovewith；somakeyourmindeasy，AuntJanet。Notthatyouwouldbeunhappy，Iknow，dear，ifIDIDfallinlove。IsupposeI

mustmarrysomeday。Itisadutynow，Iknow，whenthereissuchanestateasUncleRogerhasleftme。AndIknowthis：IshallnevermarryanywomanunlessIloveher。AndIamrightsurethatifIdoloveheryouwillloveher，too，AuntJanet！Won’tyou，dear？Itwouldn’tbehalfadelightifyoudidn’t。Itwon’tifyoudon’t。

There，now！