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"Dhoon Castle has kept many secrets!" It was a grim noble of the Middle Ages who was speaking. "For a Lashmore, there was no difficulty in suppressing the facts, arranging a hasty second marriage and representing the boy as the child of the later union. Had the second marriage proved fruitful, this had been unnecessary; but an heir to Dhoon was essential." "I see.
"But you are about to hear what no man has ever heard from the lips of one of my family before." He stood up again, restlessly. "Nearly thirty-five years have elapsed," he resumed, "since that December night; but my very soul trembles now, when I recall it! There was a big house-party at Dhoon, but I had been prepared, for some weeks, by my father, for the ordeal that awaited me.
Sansadhara or the dripping rock, is a singular phenomenon, situated at the head of a dell, through which a rapid stream runs, between two lines of hills towards the valley of the Dhoon. It is an overhanging rock, about 50 feet high, through which water pours from above, in innumerable little streams, like a perpetual shower of rain!
Cairn, "since she was weak enough to consent to be present at a certain séance, has, from time to time, been possessed; she has been possessed by the spirit of a vampire! Obedient to the nameless cravings of that control, she has sought out Lord Lashmore, the last of the House of Dhoon.
"Make out a report of the following facts," continued the latter, beginning to pace up and down the room. He recounted all that he had learnt of the history of the house of Dhoon and all that he had learnt of recent happenings from Lord and Lady Lashmore. His son wrote rapidly. "And now," said the doctor, "for our conclusions.
I seem to remember a tradition of Dhoon Castle, to the effect that births and deaths are heralded by a woman's mocking laughter?" "I, myself, heard it on the night I became Lord Lashmore." "That is the spirit who was known, in life, as Mirza, Lady Lashmore!" "But " "It is possible to gain control of such a being." "By what means?"
You would appear to know much of my family's black secret; perhaps you know where that room lies at Dhoon?" "Certainly, I do," replied Dr. Cairn calmly; "it is under the moat, some thirty yards west of the former drawbridge." Lord Lashmore changed colour. When he spoke again his voice had lost its timbre. "Perhaps you know what it contains." "I do.
It ultimately brought my grandfather to the madhouse, but my father was of sterner stuff, and so, it seems, was I. After those three years of horror I threw off the memories of Paul Dhoon, the third baron " "It was on the night of your twenty-first birthday that you were admitted to the subterranean room?" "You know so much, Dr. Cairn, that you may as well know all." Lashmore's face was twitching.
Cairn, for three years, night and day, that spectacle haunted me; for three years, night and day, I seemed to have before my eyes the dreadful face the bearded, grinning face of Paul Dhoon. He lay there upon the floor of the dungeon, his fists clenched and his knees drawn up as if in agony. He had lain there for generations; yet, as God is my witness, there was flesh on his bones.
Two horrible desires of the Spirit Mirza would be gratified if a Dhoon could be made her victim the desire for blood and the desire for vengeance! The fate of Lord Lashmore would be sealed if that spirit could secure incarnation!" Dr. Cairn paused, glancing at his son, who was writing at furious speed. Then
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