'Sir,' said his friend earnestly, 'I never saw a ghost in my life, nor believed in them; and even now I have seen nothing. But that something passed through the room just now was quite clear. I heard it distinctly.'
'And I felt the wind it made as it passed by me,' remarked another witness.
'Pray, sir,' said the first, addressing himself to the father; 'have you seen anything at any time, or heard voices or noises, or dreamed anything about this matter?'
'Many times I have dreamed that my son was alive, and that I had spoken with him, and once that I had asked him why he had not written to me for so long, seeing that I had it in my power to disinherit him.'
'And what answer did he make to that?'
'I never dreamt on so long as to have his answer.'
'And what do you think yourself? Do you believe he is dead?'
'No; I do not. I believe he is alive, and that if I disinherit him I shall commit a sin.'
'Truly,' said the second witness; 'it begins to shock me. I will meddle with it no further.' But at these words the wife, who had recovered her courage, exclaimed:
'What is the use of talking like that? Everything is settled. Why else are we here? I am not frightened, if you are,' and again she took up one of the old deeds, in order to tear off the seal.