She took two or three quick breaths before she answered:
“No, sir,” she said, “at least nothing that I can give an account of. I was tidying up in your room, and I thought you came in. But there was nobody, and it gave me a turn. I left my candle there; I must go up for it.”
I waited in the hall a moment, while she again ascended the stairs, and passed along the gallery to my room. At the door, which I could see was open, she paused, not entering.
“What is the matter?” I asked from below.
“I left the candle alight,” she said, “and it’s gone out.”
Jack laughed.
“And you left the door and window open,” said he.
“Yes, sir, but not a breath of wind is stirring,” said Mrs Franklyn, rather faintly.
This was true, and yet a few moments ago the heavy hall-door had swung open and back again. Jack ran upstairs.
“We’ll brave the dark together, Mrs Franklyn,” he said.