THB LIFE or PETER BUFF* 87 



you confounded young rascal, by frightening me in this manner ? 

 I'm all of a tremble," said he. " And I'm all of a heap, sir," said 

 I, from among the books. " I hope you are not hurt, Peter," said 

 the governor. " No, sir," I said ; " but it is not at all pleasant to 

 be put on the shelf for so long a time in a book-case, and on a warm 

 day, too." " I dare say you are right, Peter ; but how came you 

 there ?" So I told him, and also informed him that when I was in 

 the book-case, I began to think of the " black hole" at Calcutta, and 

 by degrees, what with the place and what with the imagination, I 

 gi'ew so warm that I expected notliing less than becoming a spon- 

 taneous combustible, when fortunately I was relieved of these appre- 

 hensions by rolling out." He laughed heartily at my mishap, and 

 sent me with a letter to the office of another merchant. During the 

 time I was absent the count returned, and Mr Blueskin, calling 

 him into his office, said he had a few questions to put to him, and 

 began by asking him if he believed in ghosts. This was rather a 

 poser to the count, for he did not like to say he did not believe in 

 them for fear he should see one to convince him ; and he did not like 

 to say he did believe in them, because he thought that would look 

 unmanly. The governor, not noticing his hesitation, continued. 

 " Now I am not in the habit of giving credence to stories of the 

 supernatural, but I have this afternoon, as I sat in this office, been 

 perfectly convinced of the existence of what are generally termed 

 ghosts." The count now began to look rather pale, and to remember 

 with fear and misgiving that his father's mother's brother was said to 

 have once seen one ; and now he wished he had spoken out boldly, 

 and declared his entire and firm belief in ghosts, for then, he thought 

 to himself, they might have behaved handsomely to him, and not 

 trouble him at all ; but now he had some doubt as to what might be 

 done. " Yes," said the governor, " this office must be haunted. 

 Did you ever hear any strange noise in it, Thomas ?" — (this was the 

 count's christian name.) " No, sir, never," said Thomas— not 

 thinking it at all necessary to mention the horrible noises that he 

 had assisted me in making at various times. " Well, I certainly 

 heard a most unaccountable noise this afternoon ; it seemed to me 

 to come out of that book-case. Ha !" continued Mr. Bluenose, start- 



