human
I--I don't quite know, my lord.
gpt
Nonsense! exclaimed Cyril impatiently.
human
You must know whether or not something has happened to upset you.
gpt
Well, my lord--it's this way, my lord--Susan, the upper 'ousemaid, says as how there has been somebody or-- here his voice sank to a whisper and he cast an apprehensive glance over his shoulder--
human
She thinks she saw a ghost in the library?
gpt
No, my lord. She didn't see anything, but this morning she found finger-marks on the top of his Lordship's desk.
human
Pooh! What of that? One of the servants may have gone in there out of curiosity.
gpt
But what would anybody be doing there in the night, I should like to know? And Susan says those marks could only 'ave been made last night, my lord.
human
Why?
gpt
On account of the dust, my lord. It takes time for dust to settle and a 'ousemaid, who knows 'er business, can tell, after she's been in a place a couple of months, just about 'ow long it's been since any particular piece of furniture has been dusted. Aye, Susan knows, my lord. No young 'ousemaid can pull the wool over 'er eyes, I can tell you.
human
Does every one know of Susan's suspicions?
gpt
No, my lord. Susan's a sensible woman, and though she was frightened something terrible, she only told Mrs. Eversley and Mrs. Eversley told me and we three agreed we'd hold our tongues. Every one's that upset as it is, that they'd all 'ave 'ighstrikes if they knew that It was walking.
human
Don't be a fool, Douglas. No one believes in ghosts nowadays. But even if there were such things, an intangible spirit couldn't possibly leave finger-marks behind it.
gpt
But, my lord, if you'll excuse me, my aunt's cousin--
human
I have no time now to hear about your aunt's cousin, though no doubt it is a most interesting story. Send Susan to me at once.
gpt
Very good, my lord.
human
And it's my belief they were made by a skeleton hand, she added.
gpt
And as for going into that room again, indeed I just couldn't, not for nobody, meaning no disrespect to your Lordship; and as for the other 'ousemaids, they'll not go near the place either and haven't been since the murder.
human
Very well, Susan, I shall not ask you to do so. Those rooms shall not be opened again till this mystery is cleared up. I will go now and lock them up myself.
gpt
Thank you, my lord.