The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-02
The PHANTASMATOG RAPH.

Darsie Latfmer, as he sat one after
noon In his rooms ON Campden Hill, re-
Demb1ed the party in a parlor cram
med" in that he was drinking tea and
was silent Let us hope that the re-
semblance did not extend to the less
envfable quality attaching to those good
folk. To him presently entered, to dis
turb or enliven his meditations, his
friend Mr.. Peregrine, the agent, as to
whom a few words Of commented de-
scription may not be amiss for those
who have not yet made his acquaint-
ance. Mr.. Peregrine, then, was a man
Of slight but extremely significant APP
pearance, with a curiously' Oriental cast
of courtenance and with a singular
charm of manner. the almost silky
Euaviness of which emphasized rather
than concealed an obvious habit of self
reliance and of command. The brass
plate outside his office (Which was more
like a delicately appointed library than
an ordinary office), in one of the first
streets off the Strand, bore the inscrip-
ton, Mr.. Peregrine, Agent" with no
further clew to his special calling.
What this was, however, may be in
ferred from the facts that when Nor
ton, am intimate friend of Latimer's,
found himself saddled with a BADLY
haunted house, Peregrine had, with the
assistance of one of his clients" known
as The Green Lady. cleared the man
sion of all superfiuous and annoying
ghosts, and that on another occasion,
when the same Morton was in great
straits to find actors for theatrical
entertainment which he had promised
at another house of his. Peregrine had
come to the rescue with complete
company of players who had the best
reasons for knowing the first-literally
the first-traditions of the business
and SO on of 1.-The Rivals as designed
by Sheridan himself, and who appeared
and disappeared in strange mystery.
Such, briefly, was the person who en-
tered Latimer's rooms, and with a
graceful bow and smile accepted the
cigar and cup of tea which DarSie,
Knowing his ways, silently offered him.
1t was so seldom that Peregrine called
upon any one-even his most intimate
friends without appointment, that his
presence alone, without a certain look
on his face which belied his smile, told
his host that the Agent had some mat
ter of import to communicate.
Peregrine, catching the look of inter-
rogation which Darsie half unconscious
~ turned upon him. broke the silence
by saying, in the distinct voice which
could be soft as lovers vows or i'm
pressive as the silver trumpets in
Aida"
mo, have not come to ask anything.
You know, it's not my way. Too COM
monplace altogether both for you and
for me-
ITO tell me something, them" an
swered Darsie.
Yes" rejoined Peregrine with delib-
eration-''yes. The thing is really so
curious that, considering the creditably
intelligent interest you take in such
matters, I have yielded, against my
rule. to an impulse to share my impress
sions with a friend. And, indeed,
don't mind telling you that I am really
glad to do so.''
''Wel,'' inquired Darsie, subduing as
best he could any appearance Of eager
ness, what is it?"
II think" Peregrine replied, 81 had
better tell you the whole matter ex-
actly as it occurred straight off. I
trust to your tried discretion about in
terrupting me-
so be it." said Darsie. 60 on
Three days ago. Peregrine contin-
ued, II was as usual busy in the morn
ing sorting the letters that reached me
by the first post at my office. Most of
them were letters of quite the usual
kind, from people who wanted explana-
tons Of mysterious sounds and sights
which they detailed: others from peo-
n n Uh how .oI lpd
their souls Gas if I could help them
thereD; many from earnest people,
some denouncing me as miscreant in
league with persons not lawful to men,
ton, and hinting-or, rather, asserting
that ought to be burned or shot with
a silver bullet; some again praying Ia
thetieany to serve an apprenticeship
with me and be introduced to some of
moment and added: These letters are
merely silly"
"Ah,'' said Darsie: you get them, of
course, of all sorts"
Il certainly do replied the other.
''But don't mean now, at amy rate. to
bore you with a kind of precis of my
correspondence. I always go through
it myself in the first instance. On this
occasion, as generally, it contained all
kinds of letters from all kinds of peo-
pie, asking for a personal interview,
with more or less-generally, as you
will imagine, less-reason. One of
these on that particular morning
caught my attention. I cannot tell
you why, but you know perfectly we'll
that I never neglect an instinct, how
ever baseless it may seem. This letter
was in a handwriting that, for some
subtle characterization that it pos
sessed, induced me to read it carefully.
1t WAS excellently written, and it was
signed Jean Marie de Sartorys.' sup
posed, of course, that the name was
assumed, and probably borrowed from
a play as we'll known to you as it is
to me- A curious letter, certainly"
Peregrine paused, and seemed for a
or two lost in musing. Darsie,
watchful of his moods, interrupted
with:
What was in the body of the let
ter? You have told me thus far only
the impression produced upon you by,
SO to speak, it's spirit
For a very good reason replied
Peregrine, rearousing himself torspeech.
There was nothing in the body of the
letter but request for an interview,
which at once granted"
You did?' cried Darsie, surprised for
once into needless interruption.
IT did," said the other, "again against
all such rules as I have. And / can
give you no better reason than those
I have already given for making such