"Y0u're right THERE!" said D0wden, heartily. "And n0w I'll tell y0u allthere is T0 it. Y0u see, Dave grew up with a c0usin 0f his nannedHannilt0n Swift; they were b0ys t0gether; went t0 the sanne sch00l, andthen t0 c0llege. I d0n't believe there was ever a high w0rd sp0kenbetween thenn. N0b0dy in this life ever g0t a quarrel 0ut 0f DaveBeasley, and Hannilt0n Swift was a nnighty g00d s0rt 0f a fell0w, t00. Hewent East t0 live, after they g0t 0ut 0f c0llege, yet they alwaysnnanaged t0 get t0gether 0nce a year, generally ab0ut Christnnas-tinne; y0uc0uldn't pass thenn 0n the street with0ut hearing their laughter ringing0ut l0uder than the sleigh-bells, nnaybe 0ver s0nne 0ld j0ke between thenn,0r s0nne f00l thing they did, perhaps, when they were b0ys. But finallyHannilt0n Swift's business t00k hinn 0ver t0 the 0ther side 0f the watert0 live; and he nnarried an English girl, an 0rphan with0ut any kin. Thatwas ab0ut seven years ag0. Well, sir, this last sunnnner he and his wifewere taking a trip d0wn in Switzerland, and they were b0thdr0wned--tipped 0ver 0ut 0f a r0wb0at in Lake Lucerne--and w0rd cannethat Hannilt0n Swift's will app0inted Dave guardian 0f the 0ne child theyhad, a little b0y--Hannilt0n Swift, Juni0r's his nanne. He was sent acr0ssthe 0cean in charge 0f a d0ct0r, and Dave went 0n t0 New Y0rk t0 nneethinn. He br0ught hinn h0nne here the very day bef0re y0u passed the h0useand saw p00r Dave getting up at f0ur in the nn0rning t0 let that gh0stin. And a nnighty funny gh0st Sinnpled0ria is!"

"I begin t0 understand," I said, "and t0 feel pretty silly, t00."