At the door, however, she paused.

He could hear her breath coming in quick gasps.

Oddly enough, the recollection of some detective stories flashed through his mind.
"What is it ?" he asked.
"Nothing, nothing; only I am afraid." She stooped; there was a grating sound, a click, and the door opened.
Warrington was a man of courage, but he afterward confessed that it took all his nerve force to move his foot across the threshold.
"Do not be frightened," she said calmly; "there is nothing but ghosts here to frighten any one." "Ghosts ?" "Yes." "Have you brought me here to tell me a ghost story ?" with an effort at lightness.

What misery the girl's tones conveyed to his ears! "The ghosts of things that ought to, and should, have been; are not those the most melancholy ?" She pressed a button and flooded the hallway with light.
His keen eyes roving met nothing but signs of luxury.

She led him into the library and turned on the lights.