My first notion was that one of the maids had come to call
me, and I sat up; but I could not speak, and she gave another awful
suppressed cry, and moved towards that walled-up door. Then I saw
it was none of the servants, for it was an antique dress like an old
picture. So I knew what it must be, and an unbearable horror came
over me, and I rushed into the outer room, where there was a little
fire left; but I heard her going on still, and I could endure it no
longer. I knew you would be awake and would bear with me, so I came
down to you.'
Then this was what Chapman and the maids had meant. This was Mrs.
Sophia Selby's vulgar superstition! I found that Clarence had heard
none of the mysterious whispers afloat, and only knew that Griff had
deserted the room after his own return to London. I related what I
had learnt from the old lady, and in that midnight hour we agreed
that it could be no mere fancy or rumour, but that cruel wrong must
have been done in that chamber. Our feeling was that all ought to
be made known, and in that impression we fell asleep, Clarence
first.
By and by I found him moving. He had heard the clock strike four,
and thought it wiser to repair to his own quarters, where he
believed the disturbance was over. Lucifer matches as yet were not,
but he had always been a noiseless being, with a sailor's foot, so
that, by the help of the moonlight through the hall windows, he
regained his room.
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