class="spkr">Malcolm. Who'll go with me to the bar!

Leek. I will. (Goes to door.)

Beldon (gulps). So—will I. (Crosses to door L. They go to the door. To Malcolm.) After you. (They slowly pass into the passage. George watching them. All exit except Hirst and Somers.)

Somers. How do you feel now, old man?

Hirst (changing his frightened manner to one of assurance). Splendid!

Somers. But—(a step back.)

Hirst. I tell you I feel splendid.

Somers. But the ghost—(Steps back to C.)

Hirst. Well, upon my word, Somers—you're not as sharp as I thought you.

Somers. What do you mean?

Hirst. Why, that I was the ghost George saw. (Crosses to L. C.) By Jove, he was in a funk! I followed him to the door and overheard his description of what he'd seen, then I burst in myself and pretended I'd seen it too. I'm going to win that, bet—(Voices heard. Crosses to R.) Look out, they're coming back. (Sits.)

Somers. Yes, but——

Hirst. Don't give me away—hush!

(Re-enter Malcolm, Leek, Beldon and George L.)

(Beldon and George go up to back C.)

Hirst. Did you see it? (In his frightened manner.)

Malcolm (C.) I don't know—I thought I saw something, but it might have been fancy. I'm in the mood to see anything just now. (To Hirst.) How are you feeling now, sir?

Hirst. Oh, I feel a bit better now. I daresay you think I'm easily scared—but you didn't see it.

Malcolm. Well, I'm not quite sure. (Goes to fire.)

Leek. You've had a bit of a shock. Best thing you can do is to go to bed.

Hirst (finishing his drink). Very well. Will you, (rises) share my room with me, Somers?

(George lights two candles.)

Somers (crosses to L. C.). I will with pleasure. (Gets up to table C. and gets a candle). Provided you don't mind sleeping with the gas full on all night. (Goes to door L.)

Leek (to Hirst). You'll be all right in the morning.

Hirst. Good night, all. (As he crosses to door.)

Omnes. Good night.

(All talking at fire, not looking to L. as Hirst and Somers exeunt. Hirst chuckles and gives Somers a sly dig.)

Somers. Good night.

Malcolm (at fireplace). Well, I suppose the bet's off, though as far as I can see I won it. I never saw a man so scared in all my life. Sort of poetic justice about it. (Leek with revolver in his hand, is just putting it into his pocket. Seeing him.) Why, what's that you've got there?

Leek. A revolver. (At fire.) You see I do a lot of night driving, visiting patients in outlying districts—they're a tough lot round here, and one never knows what might happen, so I have been accustomed to carry it. I just pulled it out so as to have it handy. I meant to have a pot at that ghost if I had seen him. There's no law against it, is there? I never heard of a close time for ghosts.

Beldon.—Oh, I say, never mind ghosts. Will you share my room? (To Malcolm.)

(George comes down a little, holding candle.)

Malcolm. With pleasure. I'm not exactly frightened, but I'd sooner have company, and I daresay George here would be glad to be allowed to make up a bed on the floor.

Beldon. Certainly.

Malcolm. Well, that's settled. A majority of three to one ought to stop any ghost. Will that arrangement suit you, George?

George. Thank you, sir. And if you gentlemen would kindly come down to the bar with me while I put out the gas. I could never be sufficiently grateful, and when (at door) we come back we can let the Doctor out at the front door. Will that do, sir?

Leek. All right; I'll be getting my coat on. (George gets to door. They exit at door L. Leek picks up his coat off chair up L., puts it on and then turns up trousers. Footsteps heard in flies, then goes to the window R., pulls curtain aside and opens the shutters of the window nearest the fire. A flood of moonlight streams in from R. Clock strikes twelve.) By Jove, what a lovely night. That poor devil did get a fright, and no mistake. (Crossing down to fireplace for his cap which is on the mantelpiece. Malcolm, Beldon and George return—the door closes after them.) Well, no sign of it, eh?

Malcolm. No, we've seen nothing this time. Here, give me the candle, George, while you turn out the gas.

Leek. All right, George, I'll put this one out. (Turns out gas below fire.)

(Malcolm and Beldon are up at sideboard, George having put the other gas out, goes up to them and is just lighting the candles for them. The Doctor is filling his pipe at mantel-shelf, and stooping to get a light with a paper spill. Leek whistles and lights spill. The handle of the door is heard moving. Omnes stand motionless—Malcolm and Beldon very frightened. They all watch. The room is lit only by the firelight which is very much fainter than it was at the beginning of the play, by the candle which George holds, and by the flood of moonlight from the window.)