Half confused, half frightened by this sudden apparition, I remained motionless, in what must have appeared a bewildered way to the newcomer. But before my fears had time to increase, the sound of a voice, unmistakably that of a gentleman, reassured me. Till he was close to me it was too dusky to distinguish his features clearly, but I saw him lift his hat as he approached.
"Excuse me," he said. "May I ask if you have possibly seen a pocket-book on the path about here? I think I must have dropped it--not far off--an hour or two ago, and very few people pass this way."
My curiosity, as well as my sympathy, was at once awakened.
"It must be," I thought to myself, "one of the Greys. Perhaps they come out here more than is known, for a little change. How I wish I had found the pocket-book; it might have been an opening!"
"No, I am sorry I have seen nothing of the kind. It has been almost too dark, though, to see it, as I have only just now come straight up the road."
Even now, close as we were, I could not distinguish his face very clearly, for the waning light was still further decreased by clouds. I saw, however, that he was anxious and worried, though, looking at him as attentively as I dared, I was surprised to see that he was not an elderly man, as from Isabel's description the older brother must be.
"And it cannot be the younger," I thought, "as he is crippled, and this man walks quite easily."
He thanked me, and passing me, again raising his hat, walked quickly along the road, down which I was about to retrace my steps.
I waited a moment or two, and then followed him at a more leisurely pace. But I had not gone more than a hundred yards or so when I saw again his figure emerging from the gloom before me. In spite of myself I felt a little afraid. The modern ghost is so very material and commonplace in appearance, by all accounts, that one may easily mistake it for a real flesh and blood personality.
"Can this path be haunted?" I asked myself, and as the stranger came nearer I involuntarily shrank up a little towards the wall.
But as he was passing, the cheerful tones of his voice dispelled my misgivings. He made an almost imperceptible pause in his quick pace, exclaiming--