122 A TRUE GHOST STORY 



ern corner. Having lighted the lamp I examined 

 the room and everything was exactly as I had left 

 it on retiring. Going to the stairs, I found the 

 door still closed, and the front door was bolt- 

 ed as Mr. Lausier had left it. I returned up- 

 stairs and went through the other three rooms. 

 There was nothing there either. The ghost had 

 come and gone without a chance to meet him ! It 

 was too bad, but the fault was not on my side. I 

 looked at my watch. It was half -past twelve. I 

 had no more time to lose if I wanted to get some 

 rest. Putting the light out I got into bed again, 

 and slept undisturbed till daylight, when I heard 

 Mr. Lausier lighting the fire in his stove. Com- 

 ing down I wished him good morning. "Good 

 morning/' said he, "I heard you walking about 

 and coming down stairs, and of course you saw 

 nothing." I confessed I had not. "It's no 

 use," he went on, "I also looked around every- 

 where last week. I know it's Le J 's spirit. It 

 was in this very room that he died, poor fellow. 

 His soul is now doing penance for his misdeeds. 

 I have had a high mass celebrated for him, and 

 Father Arnaud has promised to have special 

 prayers offered this week, so I trust that we shall 

 soon be quit of him." His belief was so firm 

 that I saw it was no use arguing unless I had 

 some tangible proof to show him. 



The night had been fine and moderately cold, 

 and as frequently occurs in the spring there was 



