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‘What did it say？’ asked Tom Cobb。
‘I don’t know what； I don’t know that it spoke。 It gave a kind of
cry； as any one of us might do； if something dreadful followed us in
a dream； and came upon us unawares； and then it died off：
seeming to pass quite round the church。’
‘I don’t see much in that；’ said John； drawing a long breath； and
looking round him like a man who felt relieved。
‘Perhaps not；’ returned his friend； ‘but that’s not all。’
‘What more do you mean to say； sir； is to come？’ asked John；
pausing in the act of wiping his face upon his apron。 ‘What are you
a…going to tell us of next？’
‘What I saw。’
‘Saw！’ echoed all three； bending forward。
‘When I opened the church…door to come out；’ said the little
man； with an expression of face which bore ample testimony to the
sincerity of his conviction； ‘when I opened the church…door to
come out； which I did suddenly； for I wanted to get it shut again
before another gust of wind came up； there crossed me—so close；
that by stretching out my finger I could have touched it—
something in the likeness of a man。 It was bare…headed to the
storm。 It turned its face without stopping； and fixed its eyes on
mine。 It was a ghost—a spirit。’
‘Whose？’ they all three cried together。
In the excess of his emotion （for he fell back trembling in his
chair； and waved his hand as if entreating them to question him no
further）； his answer was lost on all but old John Willet； who
happened to be seated close beside him。
‘Who！’ cried Parkes and Tom Cobb； looking eagerly by turns at
Solomon Daisy and at Mr Willet。 ‘Who was it？’
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‘Gentlemen；’ said Mr Willet after a long pause； ‘you needn’t ask。
The likeness of a murdered man。 This is the nineteenth of March。’
A profound silence ensued。
‘If you’ll take my advice；’ said John； ‘we had better； one and all；
keep this a secret。 Such tales would not be liked at the Warren。
Let us keep it to ourselves for the present time at all events； or we
may get into trouble； and Solomon may lose his place。 Whether it
was really as he says； or whether it wasn’t； is no matter。 Right or
wrong； nobody would believe him。 As to the probabilities； I don’t
myself think；’ said Mr Willet； eyeing the corners of the room in a
manner which showed that； like some other philosophers； he was
not quite easy in his theory； ‘that a ghost as had been a man of
sense in his lifetime； would be out a…walking in such weather—I
only know that I wouldn’t； if I was one。’
But this heretical doctrine was strongly opposed by the other
three； who quoted a great many precedents to show that bad
weather was the very time for such appearances； and Mr Parkes
（who had had a ghost in his family； by the mother’s side） argued
the matter with so much ingenuity and force of illustration； that
John was only saved from having to retract his opinion by the
opportune appearance of supper； to which they applied
themselves with a dreadful relish。 Even Solomon Daisy himself； by
dint of the elevating influences of fire； lights； brandy； and good
company； so far recovered as to handle his knife and fork in a
highly creditable manner； and to display a capacity both of eating
and drinking； such as banished all fear of his having sustained any
lasting injury from his fright。
Supper done； they crowded round the fire again； and； as is
common on such occasions； propounded all manner of leading
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questions calculated to surround the story with new horrors and
surprises。 But Solomon Daisy； notwithstanding these temptations；
adhered so steadily to his original account； and repeated it so
often； with such slight variations； and with such solemn
asseverations of its truth and reality； that his hearers were （with
good reason） more astonished than at first。 As he took John
Willet’s view of the matter in regard to the propriety of not
bruiting the tale abroad； unless the spirit should appear to him
again； in which case it would be necessary to take immediate
counsel with the clergyman； it was solemnly resolved that it
should be hushed up and kept quiet。 And as most men like to have
a secret to tell which may exalt their own importance； they arrived
at this conclusion with perfect unanimity。
As it was by this time growing late； and was long past their
usual hour of separating； the cronies parted for the night。 Solomon
Daisy； with a fresh candle in his lantern； repaired homewards
under the escort of long Phil Parkes and Mr Cobb； who were
rather more nervous than himself。 Mr Willet； after seeing them to
the door； returned to collect his thoughts with the assistance of the
boiler； and to listen to the storm of wind and rain； which had not
yet abated one jot of its fury。
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Chapter 34
efore old John had looked at the boiler quite twenty
Bminutes； he got his ideas into a focus； and brought them
to bear upon Solomon Daisy’s story。 The more he thought
of it； the more impressed he became with a sense of his own
wisdom； and a desire that Mr Haredale should be impressed with
it likewise。 At length； to the end that he might sustain a principal
and important character in the affair； and might have the start of
Solomon and his two friends； through whose means he knew the
adventure； with a variety of exaggerations； would be known to at
least a score of people； and most likely to Mr Haredale himself； by
breakfast…time