--One night, the first I was there indeed, I heard the
sound of a far-off musical instrument, faint and sweet."
The brother and sister exchanged looks. Donal went on.
"I got up and felt my way down the winding stair--I sleep at the top
of Baliol's tower--but at the bottom lost myself, and had to sit
down and wait for the light. Then I heard it again, but seemed no
nearer to it than before. I have never heard it since, and have
never mentioned the thing. I presume, however, that speaking of it
to you can do no harm. You at least will not raise any fresh
rumours to injure the respectability of the castle! Do you think
there is any instrument in it from which such a sound might have
proceeded? Lady Arctura is a musician, I am told, but surely was
not likely to be at her piano 'in the dead waste and middle of the
night'!"
"It is impossible to say how far a sound may travel in the stillness
of the night, when there are no other sound-waves to cross and break
it."
"That is all very well, Hector," said his sister; "but you know Mr.
Grant is neither the first nor the second that has heard that
sound!"
"One thing is pretty clear," said her brother, "it can have nothing
to do with the revellers at their cards! The sound reported is very
different from any attributed to them!"
"Are you sure," suggested Donal, "that there was not a violin shut
up with them? Even if none of them could play, there has been time
enough to learn.
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