"I am aware of it; but that was under extraordinary circumstances."
"It is to that point we would come," interposed Aunt Eleanor, who, although she had been silent, didn't at all like her reverend friend's mode of proceeding. "We wish to speak of that solely, Mr. Legge. You had a party last night, and that party, or a number of those persons who composed that party, appeared before the gate of my cottage at midnight. We wish, Mr. Legge, to know the motives of those persons: that is the point at which we are anxious to arrive."
"Exactly," added the reverend gentleman; "that is the point. Now, sir, what were their motives?"
"I know but of one," replied Legge.
"Aye, that is the ghost story: that we have heard. But do you not know that their principal object, sir, was to annoy this lady?"
"No, sir; on the contrary, I know that it was not. There is not a man amongst them, sir, by whom she is not respected. She is too kind—too good, sir, to be annoyed wantonly by them."
"Then, do you mean to say, Mr. Legge, that you don't know that some of those persons burglariously entered this cottage last night?"
"Entered this cottage?"
"Aye, sir! That is the question. Do you, or do you not, know that fact?"
"Most certainly I do not. Nor do I believe it to be a fact. Why, sir, there isn't one of them, who—leaving inclination out of the question entirely—would, under the circumstances, have dared, sir, to enter the cottage!"
"Very well. You are entitled to the full benefit of this opinion; but I'll now just trouble you to look at the state of this room."
The reverend gentleman then rose, and, accompanied by Sylvester and his aunt, proceeded to the parlour, duly followed by Legge, who, as he entered, looked round the room utterly astonished.
"You have, indeed, been annoyed, ma'am," at length he observed, "and I'm very sorry for it; but I'm sure—quite sure, that this was not done by either of those men."
"These things," said the reverend gentleman, "could not have been removed without hands."
"Nor could they have been removed in haste," rejoined Legge. "Were the doors broken open, ma'am?"
"No! all seemed secure in the morning! How ever they got in, I can't Imagine."
"Do you think, ma'am, it's likely that any one got in?"
"What else am I to think, Mr. Legge?"
"I ought not perhaps to offer any suggestion."
"Oh, I do hope that you will, for the affair is now so involved in mystery, that if you could throw any light upon the subject I should feel indeed grateful."
"Well, ma'am, of course, I don't know that I can; but you have a gardener, and that gardener sleeps in the house. Now, I should be very sorry, even to throw out a hint that would tend to injure any man breathing, but as I know what servants are, and what quarrels—petty
