MyadherentRooke，whohasfaithfullyservedmefornearlyfortyyears，andhasgoneonmybehalfonmanyperilousexpeditions，will，Itrust，serveyouinthesameway。Treathimwellformysake，ifnotforyourown。Ihavelefthimprovisionforalifeofease；buthewouldrathertakeapartindangerousenterprises。Heissilentasthegraveandasboldasalion。Heknowseverydetailofthefortificationandofthesecretmeansofdefence。Awordinyourear——hewasonceapirate。Hewastheninhisextremeyouth，andlongsincechangedhiswaysinthisrespect；butfromthisfactyoucanunderstandhisnature。Youwillfindhimusefulshouldoccasioneverarise。Shouldyouaccepttheconditionsofmyletter，youaretomaketheBlueMountains——inpart，atleast——yourhome，livingthereapartoftheyear，ifonlyforaweek，asinEnglandmenofmanyestatessharethetimeamongstthem。Tothisyouarenotbound，andnooneshallhavepowertocompelyouorinterferewithyou。I
onlyexpressahope。ButonethingIdomorethanhope——Idesire，ifyouwillhonourmywishes，that，comewhatmay，youaretokeepyourBritishnationality，unlessbyspecialarrangementwithandconsentofthePrivyCouncil。Sucharrangementtobeformallymadebymyfriend，EdwardBinghamTrent，orwhomsoeverhemayappointbydeedorwilltoactinthematter，andmadeinsuchawaythatnoactsavethataloneofParliamentinallitsestates，andendorsedbytheKing，mayorcanprevailagainstit。
Mylastwordtoyouis，Beboldandhonest，andfearnot。Mostthings——evenkingship——SOMEWHEREmaynowandagainbewonbythesword。Abraveheartandastrongarmmaygofar。Butwhateverissowoncannotbeheldmerelybythesword。Justicealonecanholdinthelongrun。Wherementrusttheywillfollow，andtherankandfileofpeoplewanttofollow，nottolead。Ifitbeyourfortunetolead，bebold。Bewary，ifyouwill；exerciseanyotherfacultiesthatmayaidorguard。Shrinkfromnothing。Avoidnothingthatishonourableinitself。Takeresponsibilitywhensuchpresentsitself。
Whatothersshrinkfrom，accept。Thatistobegreatinwhatworld，littleorbig，youmove。Fearnothing，nomatterofwhatkinddangermaybeorwhenceitcome。Theonlyrealwaytomeetdangeristodespiseit——exceptwithyourbrains。Meetitinthegate，notthehall。
Mykinsman，thenameofmyraceandyourown，worthilymingledinyourownperson，nowrestswithyou！
LetterfromRupertSentLeger，32BodminStreet，Victoria，S。W。，toMissJanetMacKelpie，Croom，Ross—shire。
January3，1907。
MYDEARESTAUNTJANET，Youwill，Iknow，berejoicedtohearofthegreatgood—fortunewhichhascometomethroughtheWillofUncleRoger。PerhapsSirColinwillhavewrittentoyou，asheisoneoftheexecutors，andthereisabequesttoyou，soImustnotspoilhispleasureoftellingyouofthatparthimself。Unfortunately，Iamnotfreetospeakfullyofmyownlegacyyet，butIwantyoutoknowthatatworstIamtoreceiveanamountmanytimesmorethanIeverdreamtofpossessingthroughanypossiblestrokeoffortune。SosoonasIcanleaveLondon——
where，ofcourse，Imustremainuntilthingsaresettled——IamcominguptoCroomtoseeyou，andIhopeIshallbythenbeabletoletyouknowsomuchthatyouwillbeabletoguessattheextraordinarychangethathascometomycircumstances。Itisalllikeanimpossibledream：thereisnothinglikeitinthe\"ArabianNights。\"
However，thedetailsmustwait，Iampledgedtosecrecyforthepresent。Andyoumustbepledgedtoo。Youwon’tmind，dear，willyou？WhatIwanttodoatpresentismerelytotellyouofmyowngood—fortune，andthatIshallbegoingpresentlytoliveforawhileatVissarion。Won’tyoucomewithme，AuntJanet？WeshalltalkmoreofthiswhenIcometoCroom；butIwantyoutokeepthesubjectinyourmind。
YourlovingRUPERT。
FromRupertSentLeger’sJournal。
January4，1907。
ThingshavebeenhummingaboutmesofastthatIhavehadhardlytimetothink。Butsomeofthethingshavebeensoimportant，andhavesochangedmyentireoutlookonlife，thatitmaybewelltokeepsomepersonalrecordofthem。Imaysomedaywanttoremembersomedetail——perhapsthesequenceofevents，orsomethinglikethat——anditmaybeuseful。Itoughttobe，ifthereisanyjusticeinthings，foritwillbeanawfulswottowriteitwhenIhavesomanythingstothinkofnow。AuntJanet，Isuppose，willliketokeepitlockedupforme，asshedoeswithallmyjournalsandpapers。ThatisonegoodthingaboutAuntJanetamongstmany：shehasnocuriosity，orelseshehassomeotherqualitywhichkeepsherfrompryingasotherwomenwould。Itwouldseemthatshehasnotsomuchasopenedthecoverofoneofmyjournalseverinherlife，andthatshewouldnotwithoutmypermission。Sothiscanintimegotoheralso。
IdinedlastnightwithMr。Trent，byhisspecialdesire。Thedinnerwasinhisownrooms。Dinnersentinfromthehotel。Hewouldnothaveanywaitersatall，butmadethemsendinthedinnerallatonce，andwehelpedourselves。Aswewerequitealone，wecouldtalkfreely，andwegotoveralotofgroundwhileweweredining。HebegantotellmeaboutUncleRoger。Iwasgladofthat，for，ofcourse，IwantedtoknowallIcouldofhim，andthefactwasIhadseenverylittleofhim。Ofcourse，whenIwasasmallkidhewasofteninourhouse，forhewasveryfondofmother，andsheofhim。
ButIfancythatasmallboywasratheranuisancetohim。AndthenIwasatschool，andhewasawayintheEast。AndthenpoormotherdiedwhilehewaslivingintheBlueMountains，andIneversawhimagain。WhenIwrotetohimaboutAuntJanetheansweredmeverykindlybuthewassoveryjustinthematterthatIgotafraidofhim。AndafterthatIranaway，andhavebeenroamingeversince；sotherewasneverachanceofourmeeting。Butthatletterofhishasopenedmyeyes。Tothinkofhimfollowingmethatwayallovertheworld，waitingtoholdoutahelpinghandifIshouldwantit，IonlywishIhadknown，orevensuspected，thesortofmanhewas，andhowhecaredforme，andIwouldsometimeshavecomebacktoseehim，ifIhadtocomehalfroundtheworld。Well，allIcandonowistocarryouthiswishes；thatwillbemyexpiationformyneglect。Heknewwhathewantedexactly，andIsupposeIshallcomeintimetoknowitallandunderstandit，too。
IwasthinkingsomethinglikethiswhenMr。Trentbegantotalk，sothatallhesaidfittedexactlyintomyownthought。Thetwomenwereevidentlygreatfriends——Ishouldhavegatheredthat，anyhow，fromtheWill——andtheletters——soIwasnotsurprisedwhenMr。Trenttoldmethattheyhadbeentoschooltogether，UncleRogerbeingaseniorwhenhewasajunior；andhadthenandeveraftersharedeachother’sconfidence。Mr。Trent，Igathered，hadfromtheveryfirstbeeninlovewithmymother，evenwhenshewasalittlegirl；buthewaspoorandshy，anddidnotliketospeak。Whenhehadmadeuphismindtodoso，hefoundthatshehadbythenmetmyfather，andcouldnothelpseeingthattheylovedeachother。Sohewassilent。Hetoldmehehadneversaidawordaboutittoanyone——noteventomyUncleRoger，thoughheknewfromonethingandanother，thoughheneverspokeofit，thathewouldlikeit。Icouldnothelpseeingthatthedearoldmanregardedmeinasortofparentalway——Ihaveheardofsuchromanticattachmentsbeingtransferredtothelatergeneration。Iwasnotdispleasedwithit；onthecontrary，Ilikedhimbetterforit。Ilovemymothersomuch——Ialwaysthinkofherinthepresent——thatIcannotthinkofherasdead。Thereisatiebetweenanyoneelsewholovedherandmyself。ItriedtoletMr。
TrentseethatIlikedhim，anditpleasedhimsomuchthatIcouldseehislikingformegrowinggreater。Beforewepartedhetoldmethathewasgoingtogiveupbusiness。HemusthaveunderstoodhowdisappointedIwas——forhowcouldIevergetalongatallwithouthim？——forhesaid，ashelaidahandquiteaffectionately，Ithought—
—onmyshoulder：
\"Ishallhaveoneclient，though，whosebusinessIalwayshopetokeep，andforwhomIshallbealwayswhilstIlivegladtoact——ifhewillhaveme。\"IdidnotcaretospeakasItookhishand。Hesqueezedmine，too，andsaidveryearnestly：
\"Iservedyouruncle’sintereststotheverybestofmyabilityfornearlyfiftyyears。Hehadfullconfidenceinme，andIwasproudofhistrust。Icanhonestlysay，Rupert——youwon’tmindmeusingthatfamiliarity，willyou？——that，thoughtheinterestswhichIguardedweresovastthatwithoutabusingmytrustIcouldoftenhaveusedmyknowledgetomypersonaladvantage，Ineveronce，inlittlemattersorbig，abusedthattrust——no，notevenrubbedthebloomoffit。AndnowthathehasrememberedmeinhisWillsogenerouslythatIneedworknomore，itwillbeaverygenuinepleasureandpridetometocarryoutaswellasIcanthewishesthatIpartlyknew，andnowrealizemorefullytowardsyou，hisnephew。\"
Inthelongchatwhichwehad，andwhichlastedtillmidnight，hetoldmemanyveryinterestingthingsaboutUncleRoger。When，inthecourseofconversation，hementionedthatthefortuneUncleRogerleftmustbewelloverahundredmillions，IwassosurprisedthatI
saidoutloud——Ididnotmeantoaskaquestion：
\"Howonearthcouldamanbeginningwithnothingrealizesuchagiganticfortune？\"
\"Byallhonestways，\"heanswered，\"andhiscleverhumaninsight。Heknewonehalfoftheworld，andsokeptabreastofallpublicandnationalmovementsthatheknewthecriticalmomenttoadvancemoneyrequired。Hewasalwaysgenerous，andalwaysonthesideoffreedom。
Therearenationsatthismomentonlynowenteringontheconsolidationoftheirliberty，whoowealltohim，whoknewwhenandhowtohelp。Nowonderthatinsomelandstheywilldrinktohismemoryongreatoccasionsastheyusedtodrinkhishealth。\"
\"AsyouandIshalldonow，sir！\"Isaid，asIfilledmyglassandstoodup。Wedrankitinbumpers。Wedidnotsayaword，eitherofus；buttheoldgentlemanheldouthishand，andItookit。Andso，holdinghands，wedrankinsilence。Itmademefeelquitechoky；andIcouldseethathe，too，wasmoved。
FromE。B。Trent’sMemoranda。
January4，1907。
IaskedMr。RupertSentLegertodinewithmeatmyofficealone，asIwishedtohaveachatwithhim。To—morrowSirColinandIwillhaveaformalmeetingwithhimforthesettlementofaffairs，butI
thoughtitbesttohaveaninformaltalkwithhimalonefirst，asI
wishedtotellhimcertainmatterswhichwillmakeourmeetingto—
morrowmoreproductiveofutility，ashecannowhavemorefullunderstandingofthesubjectswhichwehavetodiscuss。SirColinisallthatcanbeinmanhood，andIcouldwishnobettercolleagueintheexecutorshipofthisphenomenalWill；buthehasnothadtheprivilegeofalifelongfriendshipwiththetestatorasIhavehad。
AndasRupertSentLegerhadtolearnintimatedetailsregardinghisuncle，Icouldbestmakemyconfidencesalone。To—morrowweshallhaveplentyofformality。IwasdelightedwithRupert。HeisjustwhatIcouldhavewishedhismother’sboytobe——orasonofmyowntobe，hadIhadthegood—fortunetohavebeenafather。Butthisisnotforme。Irememberlong，longagoreadingapassageinLamb’sEssayswhichhangsinmymind：\"ThechildrenofAlicecallBartrumfather。\"SomeofmyoldfriendswouldlaughtoseeMEwritethis，butthesememorandaareformyeyesalone，andnooneshallseethemtillaftermydeath，unlessbymyownpermission。Theboytakessomequalitiesafterhisfather；hehasadaringthatisdisturbingtoanolddryasdustlawyerlikeme。ButsomehowIlikehimmorethanI
everlikedanyone——anyman——inmylife——moreeventhanhisuncle，myoldfriend，RogerMelton；andLordknowsIhadmuchcausetolikehim。Ihavemorethanevernow。Itwasquitedelightfultoseethewaytheyoungadventurerwastouchedbyhisuncle’sthoughtofhim。
Heisatrulygallantfellow，butventuresomeexploitshavenotaffectedthegoodnessofheart。ItisapleasuretometothinkthatRogerandColincametogetheraproposoftheboy’sthoughtfulgenerositytowardsMissMacKelpie。Theoldsoldierwillbeagoodfriendtohim，orIammuchmistaken。Withanoldlawyerlikeme，andanoldsoldierlikehim，andarealoldgentlewomanlikeMissMacKelpie，wholovestheverygroundhewalkson，tolookafterhim，togetherwithallhisownfinequalitiesandhismarvellousexperienceoftheworld，andthegiganticwealththatwillsurelybehis，thatyoungmanwillgofar。
LetterfromRupertSentLegertoMissJanetMacKelpie，Croom。
January5，1907。
MYDEARESTAUNTJANET，Itisallover——thefirststageofit；andthatisasfarasIcangetatpresent。Ishallhavetowaitforafewdays——oritmaybeweeks——inLondonforthedoingofcertainthingsnownecessitatedbymyacceptanceofUncleRoger’sbequest。ButassoonasIcan，dear，IshallcomedowntoCroomandspendwithyouasmanydaysaspossible。IshallthentellyouallIamatlibertytotell，andI
shallthankyoupersonallyforyourconsenttocomewithmetoVissarion。Oh，howIwishmydearmotherhadlivedtobewithus！
Itwouldhavemadeherhappy，Iknow，tohavecome；andthenwethreewhosharedtogethertheolddear，harddayswouldhavesharedinthesamewaythenewsplendour。Iwouldtrytoshowallmyloveandgratitudetoyouboth……Youmusttakethewholeburdenofitnow，dear，foryouandIarealone。No，notalone，asweusedtobe，forIhavenowtwooldfriendswhoarealreadydeartome。Oneissotoyoualready。SirColinissimplysplendid，andso，inhisownway，isMr。Trent。Iamlucky，AuntJanet，tohavetwosuchmentothinkofaffairsforme。AmInot？IshallsendyouawireassoonaseverIcanseemywaytogetthroughmywork；andIwantyoutothinkoverallthethingsyoueverwishedforinyourlife，sothatImay——
ifthereisanymortalwayofdoingso——getthemforyou。Youwillnotstandinthewayofmyhavingthisgreatpleasure，willyou，dear？Good—bye。
YourlovingRUPERT。
E。B。Trent’sMemoranda。
January6，1907。
TheformalmeetingofSirColinandmyselfwithRupertSentLegerwentoffquitesatisfactorily。Fromwhathehadsaidyesterday，andagainlastnight，IhadalmostcometoexpectanunreservedacceptanceofeverythingstatedorimpliedinRogerMelton’sWill；
butwhenwehadsatroundthetable——thisappeared，bytheway，tobeaformalityforwhichwewereallprepared，forwesatdownasifbyinstinct——theveryfirstwordshesaidwere：
\"AsIsupposeImustgothroughthisformality，ImayaswellsayatoncethatIaccepteverypossibleconditionwhichwasinthemindofUncleRoger；andtothisendIampreparedtosign，seal，anddeliver——orwhateveristheritual——whateverdocumentyou，sir\"——
turningtome——\"maythinknecessaryoradvisable，andofwhichyoubothapprove。\"Hestoodupandwalkedabouttheroomforafewmoments，SirColinandIsittingquitestill，silent。Hecamebacktohisseat，andafterafewsecondsofnervousness——ararethingwithhim，Ifancy——said：\"Ihopeyoubothunderstand——ofcourse，I
knowyoudo；Ionlyspeakbecausethisisanoccasionforformality——
thatIamwillingtoaccept，andatonce！Idoso，believeme，nottogetpossessionofthisvastfortune，butbecauseofhimwhohasgivenit。Themanwhowasfondofme，andwhotrustedme，andyethadstrengthtokeephisownfeelingsincheck——whofollowedmeinspirittofarlandsanddesperateadventures，andwho，thoughhemightbeacrosstheworldfromme，wasreadytoputoutahandtosaveorhelpme，wasnocommonman；andhiscareofmymother’ssonmeantnocommonloveformydearmother。AndsosheandItogetheraccepthistrust，comeofitwhatmay。Ihavebeenthinkingitoverallnight，andallthetimeIcouldnotgetoutoftheideathatmotherwassomewherenearme。TheonlythoughtthatcoulddebarmefromdoingasIwishedtodo——andintendtodo——wouldbethatshewouldnotapprove。NowthatIamsatisfiedshewouldapprove，I
accept。Whatevermayresultorhappen，Ishallgoonfollowingthecoursethathehassetforme。Sohelpme，God！\"SirColinstoodup，andImustsayamoremartialfigureIneversaw。Hewasinfulluniform，forhewasgoingontotheKing’sleveeafterourbusiness。
HedrewhisswordfromthescabbardandlaiditnakedonthetablebeforeRupert，andsaid：
\"Youaregoing，sir，intoastrangeanddangercountry——Ihavebeenreadingaboutitsincewemet——andyouwillbelargelyaloneamongstfiercemountaineerswhoresenttheverypresenceofastranger，andtowhomyouare，andmustbe，one。Ifyoushouldeverbeinanytroubleandwantamantostandbacktobackwithyou，Ihopeyouwillgivemethehonour！\"Ashesaidthispointedtohissword。
RupertandIwerealsostandingnow——onecannotsitdowninthepresenceofsuchanactasthat。\"Youare，Iamproudtosay，alliedwithmyfamily：andIonlywishtoGoditwasclosertomyself。\"
Ruperttookhimbythehandandbenthisheadbeforehimasanswered：
\"Thehonourismine，SirColin；andnogreatercancometoanymanthanthatwhichyouhavejustdoneme。ThebestwayIcanshowhowI
valueitwillbetocallonyouifIameverinsuchatightplace。
ByJove，sir，thisishistoryrepeatingitself。AuntJanetusedtotellmewhenIwasayoungsterhowMacKelpieofCroomlaidhisswordbeforePrinceCharlie。IhopeImaytellherofthis；itwouldmakehersoproudandhappy。Don’timagine，sir，thatIamthinkingmyselfaCharlesEdward。ItisonlythatAuntJanetissogoodtomethatImightwellthinkIwas。\"
SirColinbowedgrandly：
\"RupertSentLeger，mydearnieceisawomanofgreatdiscretionanddiscernment。And，moreover，IamthinkingshehasinhersomeofthegiftofSecondSightthathasbeenaheritageofourblood。AndIamonewithmyniece——ineverything！\"Thewholethingwasquiteregalinmanner；itseemedtotakemebacktothedaysofthePretender。
Itwasnot，however，atimeforsentiment，butforaction——wehadmetregardingthefuture，notthepast；soIproducedtheshortdocumentIhadalreadyprepared。OnthestrengthofhissteadfastdeclarationthathewouldacceptthetermsoftheWillandthesecretletters，I
hadgotreadyaformalacceptance。WhenIhadonceagainformallyaskedMr。SentLeger’swishes，andhehaddeclaredhiswishtoaccept，Igotinacoupleofmyclerksaswitnesses。
Then，havingagainaskedhimintheirpresenceifitwashiswishtodeclareacceptanceoftheconditions，thedocumentwassignedandwitnessed，SirColinandIbothappendingoursignaturestotheAttestation。
AndsothefirststageofRupertSentLeger’sinheritanceiscompleted。ThenextstepwillnothavetobeundertakenonmypartuntiltheexpirationofsixmonthsfromhisentryonhisestateatVissarion。Asheannounceshisintentionofgoingwithinafortnight，thiswillmeanpracticallyalittleoversixmonthsfromnow。
BOOKII：VISSARION
LetterfromRupertSentLeger，CastleofVissarion，theSpearofIvan，LandoftheBlueMountains，toMissJanetMacKelpie，CroomCastle，Ross—shire，N。B。
January23，1907。
MYDEARESTAUNTJANET，Asyousee，Iamhereatlast。Havinggotmyformaldutydone，asyoumademepromise——mylettersreportingarrivaltoSirColinandMr。Trentarelyingsealedinfrontofmereadytopost（fornothingshallgobeforeyours）——Iamfreetospeaktoyou。
Thisisamostlovelyplace，andIhopeyouwilllikeit。Iamquitesureyouwill。WepasseditinthesteamercomingfromTriestetoDurazzo。Iknewthelocalityfromthechart，anditwaspointedouttomebyoneoftheofficerswithwhomIhadbecomequitefriendly，andwhokindlyshowedmeinterestingplaceswheneverwegotwithinsightofshore。TheSpearofIvan，onwhichtheCastlestands，isaheadlandrunningwelloutintothesea。Itisquiteapeculiarplace——asortofheadlandonaheadland，juttingoutintoadeep，widebay，sothat，thoughitisapromontory，itisasfarawayfromthetrafficofcoastlifeasanythingyoucanconceive。Themainpromontoryistheendofarangeofmountains，andloomsupvast，toweringovereverything，amassofsapphireblue。Icanwellunderstandhowthecountrycametobecalledthe\"LandoftheBlueMountains，\"foritisallmountains，andtheyareallblue！Thecoast—lineismagnificent——whatiscalled\"iron—bound\"——beingallrocky；sometimesgreatfrowningprecipices；sometimesjuttingspursofrock；againlittlerockyislets，nowandagaincladwithtreesandverdure，atotherplacesstarkandbare。Elsewherearelittlerockybaysandindentations——alwaysrock，andoftenwithlong，interestingcaves。Someoftheshoresofthebaysaresandy，orelseridgesofbeautifulpebbles，wherethewavesmakeendlessmurmur。
ButofalltheplacesIhaveseen——inthislandoranyother——themostabsolutelybeautifulisVissarion。Itstandsattheultimatepointofthepromontory——Imeanthelittle，or，rather，lesserpromontory——thatcontinuesonthespurofthemountainrange。Forthelesserpromontoryorextensionofthemountainisinrealityvast；thelowestbitofcliffalongthesea—frontisnotlessthanacoupleofhundredfeethigh。Thatpointofrockisreallyverypeculiar。IthinkDameNaturemust，intheearlydaysofherhousekeeping——or，rather，house—BUILDING——haveintendedtogiveherlittlechild，man，arudimentarylessoninself—protection。ItisjustanaturalbastionsuchasatitanicVaubanmighthavedesignedinprimevaltimes。SofarastheCastleisconcerned，itisalonevisiblefromthesea。Anyenemyapproachingcouldseeonlythatfrowningwallofblackrock，ofvastheightandperpendicularsteepness。Eventheoldfortificationswhichcrownitarenotbuilt，butcutinthesolidrock。Alongnarrowcreekofverydeepwater，walledinbyhigh，steepcliffs，runsinbehindtheCastle，bendingnorthandwest，makingsafeandsecretanchorage。Intothecreekfallsoveraprecipiceamountain—stream，whichneverfailsinvolumeofwater。OnthewesternshoreofthatcreekistheCastle，ahugepileofbuildingsofeverystyleofarchitecture，fromtheTwelfthcenturytowheresuchthingsseemedtostopinthisdearold—worldland——aboutthetimeofQueenElizabeth。Soitisprettypicturesque。Icantellyou。Whenwegotthefirstglimpseoftheplacefromthesteamertheofficer，withwhomIwasonthebridge，pointedtowardsitandsaid：
\"Thatiswherewesawthedeadwomanfloatinginacoffin。\"Thatwasratherinteresting，soIaskedhimallaboutit。Hetookfromhispocket—bookacuttingfromanItalianpaper，whichhehandedtome。
AsIcanreadandspeakItalianfairlywell，itwasallright；butasyou，mydearAuntJanet，arenotskilledinlanguages，andasIdoubtifthereisanyassistanceofthekindtobehadatCroom，Idonotsendit。ButasIhaveheardthattheitemhasbeenproducedinthelastnumberofTheJournalofOccultism，youwillbeeasilyabletogetit。Ashehandedmethecuttinghesaid：\"IamDestilia！\"HisstorywassostrangethatIaskedhimagoodmanyquestionsaboutit。
Heansweredmequitefranklyoneverypoint，butalwaysadheringstoutlytothemainpoint——namely，thatitwasnophantomormirage，nodreamorimperfectvisioninafog。\"Wewerefourinallwhosawit，\"hesaid——\"threefromthebridgeandtheEnglishman，Caulfield——
fromthebows——whoseaccountexactlyagreedwithwhatwesaw。
CaptainMirolaniandFalamanoandIwereallawakeandingoodtrim。
Welookedwithournight—glasses，whicharemorethanusuallypowerful。Youknow，weneedgoodglassesfortheeastshoreoftheAdriaticandforamongtheislandstothesouth。Therewasafullmoonandabrilliantlight。Ofcoursewewerealittlewayoff，forthoughtheSpearofIvanisindeepwater，onehastobecarefulofcurrents，foritisinjustsuchplacesthatthedangerouscurrentsrun。\"TheagentofLloyd’stoldmeonlyafewweeksagothatitwasonlyafteraprolongedinvestigationofthetidalandseacurrentsthatthehousedecidedtoexceptfromordinaryseariskslossesduetoatooclosecoursebytheSpearofIvan。WhenItriedtogetalittlemoredefiniteaccountofthecoffin—boatandthedeadladythatisgiveninTheJournalofOccultismhesimplyshruggedhisshoulders。\"Signor，itisall，\"hesaid。\"ThatEnglishmanwroteeverythingafterendlessquestioning。\"
Soyousee，mydear，thatournewhomeisnotwithoutsuperstitiousinterestsofitsown。Itisratheraniceidea，isitnot，tohaveadeadwomancruisingroundourpromontoryinacoffin？IdoubtifevenatCroomyoucanbeatthat。\"Makestheplacekindofhomey，\"asanAmericanwouldsay。Whenyoucome，AuntJanet，youwillnotfeellonesome，atanyrate，anditwillsaveusthetroubleofimportingsomeofyourHighlandghoststomakeyoufeelathomeinthenewland。Idon’tknow，butwemightaskthestifftocometoteawithus。Ofcourse，itwouldbealatetea。Somewherebetweenmidnightandcock—crowwouldbeabouttheetiquetteofthething，Ifancy！
ButImusttellyoualltherealitiesoftheCastleandaroundit。
SoIwillwriteagainwithinadayortwo，andtrytoletyouknowenoughtoprepareyouforcominghere。Tillthenadieu，mydear。
YourlovingRUPERT。
FromRupertSentLeger，Vissarion，toJanetMacKelpie，Croom。
January25，1907。
IhopeIdidnotfrightenyou，dearAuntJanet，bytheyarnoftheladyinthecoffin。ButIknowyouarenotafraid；youhavetoldmetoomanyweirdstoriesformetodreadthat。Besides，youhaveSecondSight——latent，atallevents。However，therewon’tbeanymoreghosts，oraboutghosts，inthisletter。Iwanttotellyouallaboutournewhome。Iamsogladyouarecomingoutsosoon；Iambeginningtofeelsolonesome——Iwalkaboutsometimesaimlessly，andfindmythoughtsdriftinginsuchanoddway。IfIdidn’tknowbetter，ImightbegintothinkIwasinlove！Thereisnooneheretobeinlovewith；somakeyourmindeasy，AuntJanet。Notthatyouwouldbeunhappy，Iknow，dear，ifIDIDfallinlove。IsupposeI
mustmarrysomeday。Itisadutynow，Iknow，whenthereissuchanestateasUncleRogerhasleftme。AndIknowthis：IshallnevermarryanywomanunlessIloveher。AndIamrightsurethatifIdoloveheryouwillloveher，too，AuntJanet！Won’tyou，dear？Itwouldn’tbehalfadelightifyoudidn’t。Itwon’tifyoudon’t。
There，now！