Doubting it an illusion, Sir Austin accelerated his pace.

This wing had aforetime a bad character.

Notwithstanding what years had done to polish it into fair repute, the Raynham kitchen stuck to tradition, and preserved certain stories of ghosts seen there, that effectually blackened it in the susceptible minds of new house-maids and under-crooks, whose fears would not allow the sinner to wash his sins.

Sir Austin had heard of the tales circulated by his domestics underground.

He cherished his own belief, but discouraged theirs, and it was treason at Raynham to be caught traducing the left wing.