Returning, they took up a
position whence they could watch the door of the chamber day and
night.
For three weeks they watched it, but neither cry nor other sound
reached them. For three weeks more they watched it, and then
an evil odour began to assail them, which grew and grew, until at
length they were satisfied that the wizard was dead. They returned
therefore to the king and made their report, whereupon Lord Gernon
was decreed dead, and his heir was enfeoffed. But for many years
he was said to be still alive; and indeed whether he had ever died
in the ordinary sense of the word, was to old Eppie doubtful; for
at various times there had arisen whispers of peculiar sounds, even
strange cries, having been heard issue from that room--whispers
which had revived in the house in Mrs Courthope's own time. No one
had slept in that part of the roof within the memory of old Eppie:
no one, she believed, had ever slept there since the events of her
tale; certainly no one had in Mrs Courthope's time. It was said
also, that, invariably, sooner or later after such cries were
heard, some evil befell either the Lord of Lossie, or some one of
his family.
"Show me the room, Mrs Courthope," said the marquis, rising, as
soon as she had ended.
The housekeeper looked at him with some dismay.
"What!" said his lordship, "you an Englishwoman and superstitious!"
"I am cautious, my lord, though not a Scotchwoman," returned Mrs
Courthope. "All I would presume to say is--Don't do it without
first taking time to think over it.
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