But to lose it now would have been a serious affair for him, the disgrace of failure unconsidered.  If he could have lost a hundred guineas, it would have been comparatively a slight matter; but to lose a bet, and be utterly unable to pay it, would be disgraceful —­ no better than positive cheating.  He had not thought of this at the time.  Nor, even now, was it more than a passing thought; for he had not the smallest desire to recede.  The ambition of proving his courage to Euphra, and, far more, the strength just afforded him by the sight of her tears, were quite sufficient to carry him on to the ordeal.  Whether they would carry him through it with dignity, he did not ask himself.

And, after all, would the ghost appear?  At the best, she might not come; at the very worst, she would be but a ghost; and he could say with Hamlet —­

       “for my soul, what can it do to that,
     Being a thing as immortal as itself?”

But then, his jealousy having for the moment intermitted, Hugh was not able to say with Hamlet —­

     “I do not set my life at a pin’s fee;”

and that had much to do with Hamlet’s courage in the affair of the ghost.

He walked up and down the avenue, till, beginning to feel the night chilly, he began to feel the avenue eerie; for cold is very antagonistic to physical courage.  But what refuge would he find in the ghost’s room?

He returned to the drawing-room.  Von Funkelstein and Euphra were there alone, but in no proximity.  Mr. Arnold soon entered.

“Shall I have the bed prepared for you, Mr. Sutherland?” said Euphra.

“Which of your maids will you persuade to that office?” said Mr. Arnold, with a facetious expression.

“I must do it myself,” answered Euphra, “if Mr. Sutherland persists.”

Hugh saw, or thought he saw, the Bohemian dart an angry glance at Euphra, who shrank under it.  But before he could speak, Mr. Arnold rejoined: 

“You can make a bed, then?  That is the housemaid’s phrase, is it not?”

“I can do anything another can, uncle.”

“Bravo!  Can you see the ghost?”

“Yes,” she answered, with a low lingering on the sibilant; looking round, at the same time, with an expression that implied a hope that Hugh had heard it; as indeed he had.

“What!  Euphra too?” said Mr. Arnold, in a tone of gentle contempt.

“Do not disturb the ghost’s bed for me,” said Hugh.  “It would be a pity to disarrange it, after it has lain so for an age.  Besides, I need not rouse the wrath of the poor spectre more than can’t be helped.  If I must sleep in her room, I need not sleep in her bed.  I will lie on the old couch.  Herr von Funkelstein, what proof shall I give you?”

“Your word, Mr. Sutherland,” replied Funkelstein, with a bow.

“Thank you.  At what hour must I be there.”

“Oh!  I don’t know.  By eleven I should think.  Oh! any time before midnight.  That’s the ghost’s own, is it not?  It is now —­ let me see —­ almost ten.”