"Heigho! Life is precarious as the fall of a die at best an ephemeral business.
To-night you say the house that was Roland Marleigh's; presently men will be saying the house that the Ashburns lived--aye, and died--in.
Give you good night, Master Ashburn." He staggered off, and stumbled up the broad staircase at the head of which a servant now awaited, taper in hand, to conduct him to the chamber he demanded.
Gregory followed him with a dull, frightened eye.

Galliard's halting, thickly uttered words had sounded like a prophecy in his ears..