"Pooh! What of that? One of the servants may have gone in there out of curiosity."
"But what would anybody be doing there in the night, I should like to know? And Susan says those marks could only 'ave been made last night, my lord."
"Why?"
"On account of the dust, my lord. It takes time for dust to settle and a 'ousemaid, who knows 'er business, can tell, after she's been in a place a couple of months, just about 'ow long it's been since any particular piece of furniture has been dusted. Aye, Susan knows, my lord. No young 'ousemaid can pull the wool over 'er eyes, I can tell you."
"Does every one know of Susan's suspicions?"
"No, my lord. Susan's a sensible woman, and though she was frightened something terrible, she only told Mrs. Eversley and Mrs. Eversley told me and we three agreed we'd hold our tongues. Every one's that upset as it is, that they'd all 'ave 'ighstrikes if they knew that It was walking."
"Don't be a fool, Douglas. No one believes in ghosts nowadays. But even if there were such things, an intangible spirit couldn't possibly leave finger-marks behind it."
"But, my lord, if you'll excuse me, my aunt's cousin—" began the butler, but Cyril cut him short.
"I have no time now to hear about your aunt's cousin, though no doubt it is a most interesting story. Send Susan to me at once."
"Very good, my lord."