Some of the
men drew in their breath with a gasping sob, but most of the women
screamed outright; and that set the marquis cursing.
Duncan and Malcolm had but just entered the bed-room of the latter
when the shriek rent the air close beside, and for a moment deafened
them. So agonized, so shrill, so full of dismal terror was it, that
Malcolm stood aghast, and Duncan started to his feet with responsive
outcry. But Malcolm at once recovered himself. "Bide here till I come
back," he whispered, and hurried noiselessly out.
In a few minutes he returned, during which all had been still. "Noo,
daddy," he said, "I'm gaein' to drive in the door o' the neist room.
There's some deevilry at wark there. Stan' ye i' the door, an' ghaist
or deevil 'at wad win by ye, grip it, an' haud on like Demon the dog."
"She will so, she will so," muttered Duncan in a strange tone.
"Ochone! that she'll not pe hafing her turk with her! Ochone! ochone!"
Malcolm took the key of the wizard's chamber from his chest and his
candle from the table, which he set down in the passage. In a moment
he had unlocked the door, put his shoulder to it and burst it open.
A light was extinguished, and a shapeless figure went gliding away
through the gloom. It was no shadow, however, for, dashing itself
against a door at the other side of the chamber, it staggered back
with an imprecation of fury and fear, pressed two hands to its head,
and, turning at bay, revealed the face of Mrs.
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