The Haunted House 2

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On being thus left to himself, he marked the spot with some grass and leaves which he plucked. Next day he applied to the magistrates, and urged them to have the spot in question dug up. There were found there some bones attached to and intermingled with fetters; the body to which they had belonged, rotted away by time and the soil, had abandoned them thus naked and corroded to the chains. They were collected and interred at the public expense, and the house was ever alterwards free from the spirit, which had obtained due sepulture. I believe on the strength of those who affirm it. What follows I am myself in a position to affirm to others. I have a ireedman, who is not without some knowledge of letters.

A younger brother of his was sleeping with him in the same bed. The latter dreamed he saw some one sitting on the couch, who approached f Pair of scissors to his head, and even cut the hair from the crown of it. When day dawned he was found to be cropped round the crown, and his locks were discovered lying about. A very short time afterwards a fresh occurrence of the same kind confirmed the truth of the former one. A lad of mine was sleeping, in company with several others, in the pages apartment. There came through the windows (so he tells the story) two figures in white tunics, who cut his hair as he lay, and departed the way they came. In his case, too, daylight exhibited him shorn, and his locks scattered around. Nothing remarkable followed except, perhaps, this, that I was not brought under accusation, as should have been, if Domitian (in whose reign these events happened).

For ln his desk was found an information against me which had been presented by Cams; from which circumstance it may be conjectured inasmuch as it is the custom of accused persons to let their hair grow—that the cutting off of my slaves` hair was a sign of the danger which threatened me being averted.

I beg, then, that you will apply your great learning to this subject.

The matter is one which deserves long and deep consideration on your part; nor am I, for my part, undeserving of having the fruits of your wisdom imparted to me. You many even argue on both sides (as vour way is), provided you argue more forcibly on one side than the other so as not to dismiss me in suspense and anxiety, when the very cause of my consulting you has been to have my doubts ended.

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