“ ‘You can take away the chains if you like,’ he said. ‘Have it all cleaned as I told you. Have made a new stairs from first floor to second. Have it made of bronze. And caution your workmen not to speak of the place. Caution them to frighten others away. If and when they hire outsiders, let them choose from those at a distance rather than from those who are close at hand.’

“ ‘Like it was in Manfred’s time,’ I said.

“ ‘Like you tell it on your tours of the house and property,’ said the voice. ‘Now, I have a piece of advice for you.’

“ ‘What piece of advice?’

“ ‘You can see spirits and you’ve become enamored of a spirit named Rebecca.’

“ ‘How do you know?’

“ ‘Suffice it to say that I do know and I’m warning you against her. She wants a vengeance from you against those who have harmed her, and she’ll settle for your life. You’re a Blackwood and that’s what matters to her. Your happiness fascinates her. It gives her strength. It causes her pain.’

“ ‘You’ve seen her yourself?’

“ ‘Let me humor you on this score. I have made myself privy to those dreams of yours in which she visits. And through those dreams I have come to know her tawdry desires.’

“ ‘She was tortured in the Hermitage,’ I said. ‘She was tortured with those chains.’

“ ‘You defend her to me? What is that to me? Allow me to suggest you remove the chains and put them with the casket of her remains which you’ve buried in the cemetery.’

“ ‘You spy on me night and day,’ I said, my teeth clenched with anger.

“ ‘I wish I could,’ he answered. ‘Now I’m going to let you go and you can turn and you can look at me just as you please, and you keep your part of the bargain and I’ll never hurt you or your family or your darling love with the red hair or her clan of witches.’

“His arms were removed. I spun around. He stood back.

“He was as I remembered. Six feet in height. Thick jet black hair pulled back from a square forehead with high temples and big black eyes with dark eyebrows that gave him a determined expression, and a long line of a smiling mouth, all very impressive, and a square jaw. Eyes positively flashing in the light. He was dressed in a fine black suit, and for one instant I saw all of him, and then he was turning, sporting the long thick black ponytail of hair—and gone as surely as if he’d dematerialized like Goblin.

“Goblin was immediately by my side, and Goblin said aloud, ‘Evil, Quinn, evil. He doesn’t disappear. He uses speed.’

“ ‘Hold my hand, Goblin!’ I said to him. ‘I knew you were near but you heard his threats.’ I was shaking violently.