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Rh I have not left the house since. Pray, sir, make your search of the place, if that is your good pleasure, and leave me alone."

"As you please, Mistress Ann. And I shall know what to do next if we fail to find the men," replied the brigadier angrily, as he turned on his spurred heel, and clanked down the great room again.

Ann turned to Tregenna, who had followed modestly in the brigadier's steps. "And pray, sir, what may you want here? Have you a warrant too?"

"Nay, Mistress Ann, I would fain have put some questions to you had you been in better health to answer them. As it is, I cannot trouble you now; I will come hither again at some more convenient season."

"Nay, sir, there's no time like the present," retorted Ann in a tone of considerable irritation; "ask what questions you please."

"Well, then, I have heard talk that you have a barn that's haunted, and I would be glad to know whether 'tis by spirits or by men."

"Sure, the best way to answer that would be to see for yourself, sir," retorted Ann sharply.