It was a madwoman's threat, Squire, but her ladyship is a madwoman at this moment, and with a knife in her hand you'll never be safe in this house." "We must see," Dominey said quietly, "that she is not allowed to get possession of any weapon." "Aye! Make sure of that," Middleton scoffed, "with Mother Unthank by her side! Her ladyship's mad because of the horror of that night, but Mother Unthank is mad with hate, and there isn't a week passes," the old man went on, his voice dropping lower and his eyes burning, "that Roger Unthank's spirit don't come and howl for your blood beneath their window.

If you stay here this night, Squire, come over and sleep in the little room they've got ready for you on the other side of the house." Mr.Mangan had lost his smooth, after-dinner appearance.

His face was rumpled, and his coffee was growing cold.

This was a very different thing from the vague letters and rumours which had reached him from time to time and which he had put out of his mind with all the contempt of the materialist.
"It is very good of you to warn me, Middleton," Dominey said, "but I can lock my door, can I not ?" "Lock the door of the oak room!" was the scornful reply.

"And what good would that do?
You know well enough that the wall's double on three sides, and there are more secret entrances than even I know of.