“Hang the old gentleman!” said Malcolm, heartily. “Upon my soul, I’m half afraid to go to bed. It’s odd they should both think they saw something.”
“I saw it as plain as I see you, sir,” said George, solemnly. “P’raps if you keep your eyes turned up the passage you’ll see it for yourself.”
They followed the direction of his finger, but saw nothing, although one of them fancied that a head peeped round the corner of the wall.
“Who’ll come down to the bar?” said Malcolm, looking round.
“You can go, if you like,” said one of the others, with a faint laugh; “we’ll wait here for you.”
The stout traveller walked towards the door and took a few steps up the passage. Then he stopped. All was quite silent, and he walked slowly to the end and looked down fearfully towards the glass partition which shut off the bar. Three times he made as though to go to it; then he turned back, and, glancing over his shoulder, came hurriedly back to the room.
“Did you see it, sir?” whispered George.
“Don’t know,” said Malcolm, shortly. “I fancied I saw something, but it might have been fancy. I’m in the mood to see anything just now. How are you feeling now, sir?”
“Oh, I feel a bit better now,” said Hirst, somewhat brusquely, as all eyes were turned upon him.
“I dare say you think I’m easily scared, but you didn’t see it.”