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and did not know what to do； when Mr。 Otis suddenly remembered
that； some few days before； he had given a band of gypsies
permission to camp in the park。 He accordingly at once set off for
Blackfell Hollow； where he knew they were； accompanied by his
eldest son and two of the farm…servants。 The little Duke of
Cheshire； who was perfectly frantic with anxiety； begged hard to be
allowed to go too； but Mr。 Otis would not allow him； as he was
afraid there might be a scuffle。 On arriving at the spot； however；
he found that the gypsies had gone； and it was evident that their
departure had been rather sudden； as the fire was still burning；
and some plates were lying on the grass。 Having sent off
Washington and the two men to scour the district； he ran home； and
despatched telegrams to all the police inspectors in the county；
telling them to look out for a little girl who had been kidnapped
by tramps or gypsies。 He then ordered his horse to be brought
round； and； after insisting on his wife and the three boys sitting
down to dinner； rode off down the Ascot Road with a groom。 He had
hardly； however； gone a couple of miles when he heard somebody
galloping after him； and； looking round； saw the little Duke coming
up on his pony； with his face very flushed and no hat。 'I'm
awfully sorry； Mr。 Otis；' gasped out the boy； 'but I can't eat any
dinner as long as Virginia is lost。 Please； don't be angry with
me； if you had let us be engaged last year； there would never have
been all this trouble。 You won't send me back； will you？ I can't
go！ I won't go！'
The Minister could not help smiling at the handsome young
scapegrace； and was a good deal touched at his devotion to
Virginia； so leaning down from his horse； he patted him kindly on
the shoulders； and said； 'Well； Cecil； if you won't go back I
suppose you must come with me； but I must get you a hat at Ascot。'
'Oh； bother my hat！ I want Virginia！' cried the little Duke；
laughing； and they galloped on to the railway station。 There Mr。
Otis inquired of the station…master if any one answering the
description of Virginia had been seen on the platform； but could
get no news of her。 The station…master； however； wired up and down
the line； and assured him that a strict watch would be kept for
her； and； after having bought a hat for the little Duke from a
linen…draper； who was just putting up his shutters； Mr。 Otis rode
off to Bexley； a village about four miles away； which he was told
was a well…known haunt of the gypsies； as there was a large common
next to it。 Here they roused up the rural policeman； but could get
no information from him； and； after riding all over the common；
they turned their horses' heads homewards； and reached the Chase
about eleven o'clock； dead…tired and almost heart…broken。 They
found Washington and the twins waiting for them at the gate…house
with lanterns； as the avenue was very dark。 Not the slightest
trace of Virginia had been discovered。 The gypsies had been caught
on Brockley meadows； but she was not with them； and they had
explained their sudden departure by saying that they had mistaken
the date of Chorton Fair； and had gone off in a hurry for fear they
might be late。 Indeed； they had been quite distressed at hearing
of Virginia's disappearance； as they were very grateful to Mr。 Otis
for having allowed them to camp in his park； and four of their
number had stayed behind to help in the search。 The carp…pond had
been dragged； and the whole Chase thoroughly gone over； but without
any result。 It was evident that； for that night at any rate；
Virginia was lost to them； and it was in a state of the deepest
depression that Mr Otis and the boys walked up to the house； the
groom following behind with the two horses and the pony。 In the
hall they found a group of frightened servants； and lying on a sofa
in the library was poor Mrs。 Otis； almost out of her mind with
terror and anxiety； and having her forehead bathed with eau…de…
cologne by the old housekeeper。 Mr。 Otis at once insisted on her
having something to eat； and ordered up supper for the whole party。
It was a melancholy meal； as hardly any one spoke； and even the
twins were awestruck and subdued； as they were very fond of their
sister。 When they had finished； Mr。 Otis； in spite of the
entreaties of the little Duke； ordered them all to bed； saying that
nothing more could be done that night； and that he would telegraph
in the morning to Scotland Yard for some detectives to be sent down
immediately。 Just as they were passing out of the dining…room；
midnight began to boom from the clock tower； and when the last
stroke sounded they heard a crash and a sudden shrill cry； a
dreadful peal of thunder shook the house； a strain of unearthly
music floated through the air； a panel at the top of the staircase
flew back with a loud noise； and out on the landing； looking very
pale and white； with a little casket in her hand； stepped Virginia。
In a moment they had all rushed up to her。 Mrs。 Otis clasped her
passionately in her arms； the Duke smothered her with violent
kisses； and the twins executed a wild war…dance round the group。
'Good heavens！ child； where have you been？' said Mr。 Otis； rather
angrily； thinking that she had been playing some foolish trick on
them。 'Cecil and I have been riding all over the country looking
for you； and your mother has been frightened to death。 You must
never play these practical jokes any more。'
'Except on the Ghost！ except on the Ghost！' shrieked the twins； as
they capered about。
'My own darling； thank God you are found； you must never leave my
side again；' murmured Mrs。 Otis； as she kissed the trembling child；
and smoothed the tangled gold of her hair。
'Papa；' said Virginia quietly； 'I have been with the Ghost。 He is
dead； and you must come and see him。 He had been very wicked； but
he was really sorry for all that he had done； and he gave me this
box of beautiful jewels before he died。'
The whole family gazed at her in mute amazement； but she was quite
grave and serious； and； turning round； she led them through the
opening in the wainscoting down a narrow secret corridor；
Washington following with a lighted candle； which he had caught up
from the table。 Finally； they came to a great oak door； studded
with rusty nails。 When Virginia touched it； it swung back on its
heavy hinges； and they found themselves in a little low room； with
a vaulted ceiling； and one tiny grated window。 Imbedded in the
wall was a huge iron ring； and chained to it was a gaunt skeleton；
that was stretched out at full length on the stone floor； and
seemed to be trying to grasp with its long fleshless fingers an
old…fashioned trencher and ewer； that were placed just out of its
reach。 The jug had evidently been once filled with water； as it
was covered inside with green mould。 There was nothing on the
trencher but a pile of dust。 Virginia knelt down beside