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and without difficulty persuaded her to
return to my room and sleep with me。
We accordingly lay down together； she
undressed； and I with my clothes on； for I
was every moment walking up and down
the room； and felt too nervous and miserable
to think of rest or comfort。
Emily was soon fast asleep； and I lay
awake； fervently longing for the first pale
gleam of morning； reckoning every stroke
of the old clock with an impatience which
made every hour appear like six。
It must have been about one o'clock
when I thought I heard a slight noise at
the partition…door between Emily's room
and mine； as if caused by somebody's
turning the key in the lock。 I held my
breath； and the same sound was repeated
at the second door of my roomthat which
opened upon the lobbythe sound was
here distinctly caused by the revolution of
the bolt in the lock； and it was followed by
a slight pressure upon the door itself； as if
to ascertain the security of the lock。
The person； whoever it might be； was
probably satisfied； for I heard the old
boards of the lobby creak and strain； as if
under the weight of somebody moving
cautiously over them。 My sense of hearing
became unnaturally； almost painfully
acute。 I suppose the imagination added
distinctness to sounds vague in themselves。
I thought that I could actually hear the
breathing of the person who was slowly
returning down the lobby。 At the head of
the staircase there appeared to occur a
pause； and I could distinctly hear two or
three sentences hastily whispered； the
steps then descended the stairs with
apparently less caution。 I now ventured to
walk quickly and lightly to the lobby…door；
and attempted to open it； it was indeed
fast locked upon the outside； as was also
the other。
I now felt that the dreadful hour was
come； but one desperate expedient
remainedit was to awaken Emily； and by
our united strength to attempt to force
the partition…door； which was slighter than
the other； and through this to pass to the
lower part of the house； whence it might
be possible to escape to the grounds； and
forth to the village。
I returned to the bedside and shook
Emily； but in vain。 Nothing that I could
do availed to produce from her more than
a few incoherent wordsit was a death…
like sleep。 She had certainly drank of
some narcotic； as had I probably also； spite
of all the caution with which I had
examined everything presented to us to
eat or drink。
I now attempted； with as little noise as
possible； to force first one door； then the
otherbut all in vain。 I believe no
strength could have effected my object； for
both doors opened inwards。 I therefore
collected whatever movables I could carry
thither； and piled them against the doors；
so as to assist me in whatever attempts I
should make to resist the entrance of those
without。 I then returned to the bed and
endeavoured again； but fruitlessly； to
awaken my cousin。 It was not sleep； it
was torpor； lethargy； death。 I knelt down
and prayed with an agony of earnestness；
and then seating myself upon the bed； I
awaited my fate with a kind of terrible
tranquillity。
I heard a faint clanking sound from the
narrow court which I have already
mentioned； as if caused by the scraping of
some iron instrument against stones or
rubbish。 I at first determined not to
disturb the calmness which I now felt； by
uselessly watching the proceedings of those
who sought my life； but as the sounds
continued； the horrible curiosity which I
felt overcame every other emotion； and I
determined； at all hazards； to gratify it。
I therefore crawled upon my knees to
the window； so as to let the smallest
portion of my head appear above the
sill。
The moon was shining with an uncertain
radiance upon the antique grey buildings；
and obliquely upon the narrow court
beneath； one side of which was therefore
clearly illuminated； while the other was
lost in obscurity； the sharp outlines of the
old gables； with their nodding clusters of
ivy； being at first alone visible。
Whoever or whatever occasioned the
noise which had excited my curiosity； was
concealed under the shadow of the dark
side of the quadrangle。 I placed my hand
over my eyes to shade them from the
moonlight； which was so bright as to be
almost dazzling； and； peering into the
darkness； I first dimly； but afterwards gradually；
almost with full distinctness； beheld the
form of a man engaged in digging what
appeared to be a rude hole close under the
wall。 Some implements； probably a shovel
and pickaxe； lay beside him； and to these
he every now and then applied himself as
the nature of the ground required。 He
pursued his task rapidly； and with as little
noise as possible。
'So；' thought I； as； shovelful after shovel…
ful； the dislodged rubbish mounted into a
heap； 'they are digging the grave in which；
before two hours pass； I must lie； a cold；
mangled corpse。 I am THEIRSI cannot
escape。'
I felt as if my reason was leaving me。
I started to my feet； and in mere despair I
applied myself again to each of the two
doors alternately。 I strained every nerve
and sinew； but I might as well have
attempted； with my single strength； to force
the building itself from its foundation。 I
threw myself madly upon the ground； and
clasped my hands over my eyes as if to
shut out the horrible images which crowded
upon me。
The paroxysm passed away。 I prayed
once more； with the bitter； agonised fervour
of one who feels that the hour of death is
present and inevitable。 When I arose； I
went once more to the window and looked
out； just in time to see a shadowy figure
glide stealthily along the wall。 The task
was finished。 The catastrophe of the
tragedy must soon be accomplished。
I determined now to defend my life to
the last； and that I might be able to do
so with some effect； I searched the room
for something which might serve as a
weapon； but either through accident； or
from an anticipation of such a possibility；
everything which might have been made
available for such a purpose had been carefully
removed。 I must then die tamely
and without an effort to defend myself。
A thought suddenly struck memight
it not be possible to escape through the
door； which the assassin must open in
order to enter the room？ I resolved to
make the attempt。 I felt assured that the
door through which ingress to the room
would be effected； was that which opened
upon the lobby。 It was the more direct
way； besides being； for obvious reasons；
less liable to interruption than the other。
I resolved； then； to place myself behind a
projection of the wall； whose shadow would
serve fully to conceal me； and when the
door should be opened； and before they
should have discovered the identity of the
occupant of the bed； to creep noiselessly
from the room； and then to trust to
Providence for escape。
In order to facilitate this scheme； I
removed all the lumber which I had heaped
against the door； and I had nearly completed
my arrangements； when I perceived
the room suddenly darkened by the close
approach of some shadowy object to the
window。 On turning my eyes in that
direction； I observed at the top of the
casement； as if suspended from above； first
the feet； then the legs； then the body； and
at length the whole figure of a man present
himself。 It was Edward Tn。
He appeared to be guiding his descent
so as to bring his feet upon the centre of
the stone block which occupied the lower
part of the window； and； having secured
his footing upon this； he kneeled down and
began to gaze into the room。 As the
moon was gleaming into the chamber； and
the bed…curtains were drawn； he was able
to distinguish the bed itself and its
contents。 He appeared satisfied with his
scrutiny； for he looked up and made a sign
with his hand； upon which the rope by
which his descent had been effected was
slackened from above； and he proceeded to
disengage it from his waist； this accom…
plished； he applied his hands to the
window…frame； which must have been
ingeniously contrived for the purpose； for；
with apparently no resistance； the whole
frame； containing casement and all； slipped
from its position in the wall； and was by
him lowered into the room。
The cold night wind waved the bed…
curtains； and he paused for a momentall
was still againand he stepped in upon
the floor of the room。 He held in his
hand what appeared to be a steel instrument；
shaped something like a hammer；
but larger and sharper at the extremities。
This he held rather behind him； while； with
three long； tip…toe strides； he brought
himself to the bedside。
I felt that the discovery must now be
made； and held my breath in momentary
expectation of the execration in which he
would vent