"She said this with a simple gravity that made me laugh; upon which they all stared at me with the most edifying amazement.
"'I beg your pardon,' I said; 'but you know, perhaps, in great cities, such as I usually inhabit, there are no ghosts.'
"'Indeed!' said they. 'No ghosts!'
"'At least,' I said, 'I never heard of any; and we don't believe in such things.'
"They looked at each other with surprise, but said nothing; not appearing to have any desire to convince me. 'But do you mean to say,' said I, 'that that is the reason the family don't live here, and that the castle is abandoned on that account?'
"'Yes,' they replied, 'that is the reason nobody has resided here for many years.'
"'But how can you live here then?'
"'We are never troubled in this part of the building,' said she. 'We hear noises, but we are used to that.'
"'Well, if there is a ghost, I hope I shall see it,' said I.
"'God forbid!' said the woman, crossing herself. 'But we shall guard against that; your seigneurie will sleep not far from this, where you will be quite safe.'