Griff said he could not receive me in his apartment without doing
honour to the occasion, and that Dutch courage was requisite for us
both; but I suspect it was more in accordance with Oxford habits
that he had provided a bottle of sherry and another of ale, some
brandy cherries, bread, cheese, and biscuits, by what means I do not
know, for my mother always locked up the wine. He was disappointed
that Clarence would touch nothing, and declared that inanition was
the preparation for ghost-seeing or imagining. I drank his health
in a glass of sherry as I looked round at the curious old room, with
its panelled roof, the heraldic devices and badges of the Power
family, and the trophy of swords, dirks, daggers, and pistols,
chiefly relics of our naval grandfather, but reinforced by the
sword, helmet, and spurs of the county Yeomanry which Griff had
joined.
Griff proposed cards to drive away fancies, especially as the sounds
were beginning; but though we generally yielded to him we COULD not
give our attention to anything but these. There was first a low
moan. 'No great harm in that,' said Griff; 'it comes through that
crack in the wainscot where there is a sham window. Some putty will
put a stop to that.'
Then came a more decided wail and sob much nearer to us. Griff
hastily swallowed the ale in his tumbler, and, striking a theatrical
attitude, exclaimed, 'Angels and ministers of grace defend us!'
Clarence held up his hand in deprecation.
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