'No, no,' threw in Trampleasure, 'it is all cursed superstition, but still, "Let sleeping dogs lay," as Chalker observes in the "Canterbury Tales."
'What do you mean?'
'You have heard of the old gentleman in red who is said to walk here,' answered Orange, in a subdued tone. 'The tenants who had Dolbeare before us let the walking-sticks lie at the agent's, and they were fairly routed out of the house by the noises.'
'It was rats,' said Trampleasure; 'women are cowards about noises.'
'What has this to do with my impromptu musical instrument?' asked Captain Trecarrel.
'This,' answered Orange; 'whenever there is any great misfortune about to befall those in the house, a sound is heard going through it such as that you proposed to make. What is singular is that one of the walking-sticks that goes with the house has some such a musical instrument in the handle.'
'Who is supposed to walk and pipe woe to the house?' asked the Captain.
'That red man hanging on the wall behind you.'
Every one turned to look at the picture.
'He appears harmless enough,' said Trecarrel.