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Narcissus Off Duty
andchatterings,ofcourse,
Spoiltheonescenewhich,somehow,didhavecharms;
Youweptabit,andIgrewsadforyou
Righthere!WhereMr.Xdefendsdivorce
AndWhat’s-Her-Namefallsfaintinginhisarms."
STILLCALM
"Ghostsaresuchdumbthings,"saidAlec,"they’reslow-witted.Icanalwaysoutguessaghost."
"How?"askedTom.
"Well,itdependswhere.Takeabedroom,forexample.Ifyouuseanydiscretionaghostcannevergetyouinabedroom."
"Goon,s’poseyouthinkthere’smaybeaghostinyourbedroom—whatmeasuresdoyoutakeongettinghomeatnight?"demandedAmory,interested.
"Takeastick"answeredAlec,withponderousreverence,"oneaboutthelengthofabroom-handle.Now,thefirstthingtodoistogettheroomcleared—todothisyourushwithyoureyesclosedintoyourstudyandturnonthelights—next,approachingthecloset,carefullyrunthestickinthedoorthreeorfourtimes.Then,ifnothinghappens,youcanlookin.Always,alwaysrunthestickinviciouslyfirst—neverlookfirst!"
"Ofcourse,that’stheancientCelticschool,"saidTomgravely.
"Yes—buttheyusuallyprayfirst.Anyway,youusethismethodtocleartheclosetsandalsoforbehindalldoors—"
"Andthebed,"Amorysuggested.
"Oh,Amory,no!"criedAlecinhorror."Thatisn’ttheway—thebedrequiresdifferenttactics—letthebedalone,asyouvalueyourreason—ifthereisaghostintheroomandthat’sonlyaboutathirdofthetime,itisalmostalwaysunderthebed."
"Well"Amorybegan.