CHAPTER XV 189 matting. " I hope it is he," thought I, " and not something worse."
He re-entered, pale and very gloomy. " I have found it all out," said he, setting his candle down on the washstand; " it is as I thought."
" How, sir?"
He made no reply, but stood with his arms folded, looking on the ground. At the end of a few minutes he inquired in rather a peculiar tone-
" I forget whether you said you saw anything when you opened your chamber door."
" No, sir, only the candlestick on the ground."
" But you heard an odd laugh? You have heard that laugh before, I should think, or something like it?"
" Yes, sir: there is a woman who sews here, called Grace Poole,-- she laughs in that way. She is a singular person."
" Just so. Grace Poole-- you have guessed it. She is, as you say, singular-- very. Well, I shall reflect on the subject. Meantime, I am glad that you are the only person, besides myself, acquainted with the precise details of to-night ' s incident. You are no talking fool: say nothing about it. I will account for this state of affairs "( pointing to the bed): " and now return to your own room. I shall do very well on the sofa in the library for the rest of the night. It is near four:- in two hours the servants will be up."
" Good-night, then, sir," said I, departing. He seemed surprised-- very inconsistently so, as he had just told me to go. " What!" he exclaimed, " are you quitting me already, and in that way?" " You said I might go, sir."