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The following day was a Thursday and on Thursdays, as has been

stated, Belpher Castle was thrown open to the general public between

the hours of two and four It was a tradition of long standing, this

periodical lowering of the barriers, and had always been faithfully

observed by Lord Marshmoreton ever since his accession to the title

By the perarded with

of it in theory, as he

did of all the fas feudal, and took his position as one of the hereditary

aristocracy of Great Britain extremely seriously--heartily disliked

it in practice More than once he had been obliged to exit hastily

by a further door in order to keep fro discovered by a drove

of tourists intent on inspecting the library or the great

drawing-room; and noas his custom to retire to his bedrooe until the tide of invasion

had ebbed away

Keggs, the butler, always looked forward to Thursdays with

pleasurable anticipation He enjoyed the sense of authority which

it gave hi the

surroundings which were an every-day co the sound of his own voice as it lectured in

rolling periods on the objects of interest by the way-side But