Page:Marsh--The seen and the unseen.djvu/122

98 As before, the sound ceased almost directly he had left the room.

"Rouse has stopped the concert for the second time. Just as the fair musician was tuning up too!"

Ernest seemed to take it for granted that it was a maid. When Rouse reappeared in the room his bearing was a trifle disturbed.

"There was no one upstairs, sir. It must have been in the street."

I kicked at this.

"Come, Rouse, that won't do. Did it sound to you as though it were in the street?"

"It didn't, sir. But it must have been. There's no one upstairs, and the maids are all below. Besides, sir, there's no one in the house as plays the fiddle."

Ernest interposed. A smile was twinkling in his eyes.

"Where was the violin?"

"There's a violin-case upon the table, sir. I don't know if a violin is in it. The case is closed."

"I left it closed."

Ernest's tone was dry. I could see he had his doubts as to the man's veracity. Rouse has been in my service nearly thirty years, and I do not remember having once detected him in a lie. If he was screening anyone, I would have it out with him when my visitor had gone. I did not intend to humiliate a tried and faithful servant in the presence of my young gentleman. I returned to the erratic Mr. Coursault.

"I suppose when your friend disappeared he left a little bill behind."

"You little know Coursault! He had the most