“Go on.”
Natalie told the story of hearing faint groans, as of a dying man, and of the sudden extinguishing of the lights.
“One moment, Miss Vernon. When the lights went out, the room was quite still, was it not?”
“Deathly silent, Mr. Ford. Joyce and I were breathless, listening for further sounds of any sort.”
“And, tell me, did you hear the click of the switch as the light went out?”
“Yes, I did. I heard it distinctly.”
“And did that mean nothing to you?”
“Why, what could it mean?”
“It meant, Miss Vernon, that the light was switched off by a mortal,—flesh and blood hand. Had it been supernaturally extinguished there would have been no sound.”
“I heard it,—I’m sure I heard it. But I think the spirit of Mr. Stannard haunts the whole room, and it was he who turned the light off.”