“I should indeed. But would not you be sorry to lose another mystery?”
“On the contrary, there is only the rumour of a mystery now, and we do not quite believe it. We are not at liberty, in the name of good sense, to believe it yet. But if we find the room, or the space even where it may be, we shall probably find also a mystery—something never in this world to be accounted for, but suggesting a hundred unsatisfactory explanations. But, pardon me, I do not in the least presume to press it.”
Lady Arctura smiled.
“You may do what you please,” she said. “If I seemed for a moment to hesitate, it was only that I wondered what my uncle would say to it. I should not like to vex him.”
“Certainly not; but would he not be pleased?”
“I will speak to him, and find out. He hates what he calls superstition, and I fancy has curiosity enough not to object to a search. I do not think he would consent to pulling down, but short of that, I don’t think he will mind. I should not wonder if he even joined in the search.”
Donal thought with himself it was strange then he had never undertaken one. Something told him the earl would not like the proposal.
“But tell me, Mr. Grant—how would you set about it?” said Arctura, as they went towards the tower.
“If the question were merely whether or not there was such a room, and not the finding of it,—”
“Excuse me—but how could you tell whether there was or was not such a room except by searching for it?”