Needless to say , I slept very little the remainder of that night , and what small amount of rest I did get was in an armchair that I covered with blankets .
Lord Kettering awaited me as I came down for breakfast . He smiled wryly . “ How was your night ?”
“ Damn lousy trick to play ,” I grumbled . “ Do those firebrands come to your bidding ?”
“ Hardly ,” he muttered sadly . “ Surely you have no doubt that they were spirits ?”
“ I concede that . Good God , the Hall is truly haunted .” The enormity of this truth finally crashed in upon me .
“ Perhaps ,” conceded Kettering . “ But the Hall is not haunted by them . I am haunted by them .”
I saw that Jeffries had placed a glass of brandy at my elbow . It was most welcome . “ I don ’ t understand ,” I said .
“ I would have told you the story last evening , but you never would have believed me . Now you must , but I do not envy you the task of setting it down without your readers scoffing . Do as you will — I no longer care if I am thought insane .” Then Kettering began in earnest .
“ Twenty years ago , the Manor had far more tenants than today . When not in Parliament , I was a personable country gentleman , and I think I was a fair landlord . A number of shacks housed laborers beyond the
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