The same sound occurred again while we were at lunch in the dining-room just now. The first time Miss Langton rushed to the library and found a housemaid there at the stove, so we agreed it should not count. It occurred again in about five minutes, and again she went into the room (which is next the dining-room) and found it empty and no one in the hall.
Mrs. M——, whom I asked to locate the sound, pointed to just that part of the wall by the table upon which the knock had struck.
Signed (as correct) by Mrs. M—— and Miss Langton.
(I have since asked the housemaid if she heard anything, and she says no, she was making too much noise herself. We all heard it distinctly, above the clatter of the fire-irons.)
On April 9th Mr. M—— sent me the following account of his impressions:—
"... You ask me to describe the noises I heard while staying with you at B——. I should say, in the first place, that I am a good, but light, sleeper; I seldom lie awake, am generally asleep five minutes after going to bed, but wake easily, and awake at once to full consciousness. I am not the least nervous, and have often slept in so-called 'haunted' rooms [Mr. M—— has had very exceptional opportunities in this direction]; and while I certainly cannot say that I altogether disbelieve in what are commonly called 'ghosts,' I do believe that in nine cases out of ten, noises, and even appearances, may, if investigated, be traced to perfectly normal causes.
"We spent three nights at B——: March 30th and 31st, and April 1st. The first two nights room No. 1 was our bedroom, and the third night room No. 8. Room No. 2 was my dressing-room.
"When talking to you and Miss Langton at the top of the stairs, just before going to bed, we all of us heard noises—rappings—coming apparently from No. 2. The noises were very undoubted, but as we were talking at the time I cannot define them more accurately.
"When first going to bed, both nights in No. 1, we heard footsteps and voices apparently in conversation above us. The sounds seemed to come from a room which was over the bed, but did not extend as far as the fireplace in No. 1, and also from the room which would be above the room next to ours behind the bed."
The rooms overhead were empty. Cf. under date April 1st.