按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
finery； the courtly precision of that old…fashioned garb； with its
ruffles and lace and buckles； and the corpselike aspect and
ghostlike stillness of the flitting wearer。 Just as the male shape
approached the female； the dark Shadow started from the wall； all
three for a moment wrapped in darkness。 When the pale light
returned； the two phantoms were as if in the grasp of the Shadow
that towered between them； and there was a blood stain on the
breast of the female； and the phantom male was leaning on its
phantom sword； and blood seemed trickling fast from the ruffles
from the lace； and the darkness of the intermediate Shadow
swallowed them up；they were gone。 And again the bubbles of light
shot； and sailed； and undulated； growing thicker and thicker and
more wildly confused in their movements。
The closet door to the right of the fireplace now opened； and from
the aperture there came the form of an aged woman。 In her hand she
held letters；the very letters over which I had seen THE Hand
close； and behind her I heard a footstep。 She turned round as if
to listen； and then she opened the letters and seemed to read； and
over her shoulder I saw a livid face； the face as of a man long
drowned；bloated； bleached； seaweed tangled in its dripping hair；
and at her feet lay a form as of a corpse； and beside the corpse
there cowered a child； a miserable； squalid child； with famine in
its cheeks and fear in its eyes。 And as I looked in the old
woman's face； the wrinkles and lines vanished； and it became a face
of youth；hard…eyed； stony； but still youth； and the Shadow darted
forth； and darkened over these phantoms as it had darkened over the
last。
Nothing now was left but the Shadow； and on that my eyes were
intently fixed； till again eyes grew out of the Shadow；malignant；
serpent eyes。 And the bubbles of light again rose and fell； and in
their disordered； irregular； turbulent maze； mingled with the wan
moonlight。 And now from these globules themselves； as from the
shell of an egg； monstrous things burst out； the air grew filled
with them： larvae so bloodless and so hideous that I can in no way
describe them except to remind the reader of the swarming life
which the solar microscope brings before his eyes in a drop of
water；things transparent； supple； agile； chasing each other；
devouring each other； forms like naught ever beheld by the naked
eye。 As the shapes were without symmetry； so their movements were
without order。 In their very vagrancies there was no sport； they
came round me and round； thicker and faster and swifter； swarming
over my head； crawling over my right arm； which was outstretched in
involuntary command against all evil beings。 Sometimes I felt
myself touched； but not by them； invisible hands touched me。 Once
I felt the clutch as of cold； soft fingers at my throat。 I was
still equally conscious that if I gave way to fear I should be in
bodily peril； and I concentered all my faculties in the single
focus of resisting stubborn will。 And I turned my sight from the
Shadow； above all； from those strange serpent eyes；eyes that had
now become distinctly visible。 For there； though in naught else
around me； I was aware that there was a WILL； and will of intense；
creative； working evil； which might crush down my own。
The pale atmosphere in the room began now to redden as if in the
air of some near conflagration。 The larvae grew lurid as things
that live in fire。 Again the room vibrated； again were heard the
three measured knocks； and again all things were swallowed up in
the darkness of the dark Shadow； as if out of that darkness all had
come； into that darkness all returned。
As the gloom receded； the Shadow was wholly gone。 Slowly； as it
had been withdrawn； the flame grew again into the candles on the
table； again into the fuel in the grate。 The whole room came once
more calmly； healthfully into sight。
The two doors were still closed； the door communicating with the
servant's room still locked。 In the corner of the wall； into which
he had so convulsively niched himself； lay the dog。 I called to
him；no movement； I approached；the animal was dead： his eyes
protruded； his tongue out of his mouth； the froth gathered round
his jaws。 I took him in my arms； I brought him to the fire。 I
felt acute grief for the loss of my poor favorite；acute self…
reproach； I accused myself of his death； I imagined he had died of
fright。 But what was my surprise on finding that his neck was
actually broken。 Had this been done in the dark？ Must it not have
been by a hand human as mine； must there not have been a human
agency all the while in that room？ Good cause to suspect it。 I
cannot tell。 I cannot do more than state the fact fairly； the
reader may draw his own inference。
Another surprising circumstance；my watch was restored to the
table from which it had been so mysteriously withdrawn； but it had
stopped at the very moment it was so withdrawn； nor； despite all
the skill of the watchmaker； has it ever gone since；that is； it
will go in a strange； erratic way for a few hours； and then come to
a dead stop； it is worthless。
Nothing more chanced for the rest of the night。 Nor； indeed； had I
long to wait before the dawn broke。 Not till it was broad daylight
did I quit the haunted house。 Before I did so； I revisited the
little blind room in which my servant and myself had been for a
time imprisoned。 I had a strong impressionfor which I could not
accountthat from that room had originated the mechanism of the
phenomena； if I may use the term； which had been experienced in my
chamber。 And though I entered it now in the clear day； with the
sun peering through the filmy window； I still felt； as I stood on
its floors； the creep of the horror which I had first there
experienced the night before； and which had been so aggravated by
what had passed in my own chamber。 I could not； indeed； bear to
stay more than half a minute within those walls。 I descended the
stairs； and again I heard the footfall before me； and when I opened
the street door； I thought I could distinguish a very low laugh。 I
gained my own home； expecting to find my runaway servant there； but
he had not presented himself； nor did I hear more of him for three
days； when I received a letter from him； dated from Liverpool to
this effect：
〃HONORED SIR；I humbly entreat your pardon； though I can scarcely
hope that you will think that I deserve it； unlesswhich Heaven
forbid！you saw what I did。 I feel that it will be years before I
can recover myself； and as to being fit for service； it is out of
the question。 I am therefore going to my brother…in…law at
Melbourne。 The ship sails to…morrow。 Perhaps the long voyage may
set me up。 I do nothing now but start and tremble； and fancy it is
behind me。 I humbly beg you； honored sir； to order my clothes； and
whatever wages are due to me； to be sent to my mother's； at
Walworth；John knows her address。〃
The letter ended with additional apologies； somewhat incoherent；
and explanatory details as to effects that had been under the
writer's charge。
This flight may perhaps warrant a suspicion that the man wished to
go to Australia； and had been somehow or other fraudulently mixed
up with the events of the night。 I say nothing in refutation of
that conjecture； rather； I suggest it as one that would seem to
many persons the most probable solution of improbable occurrences。
My belief in my own theory remained unshaken。 I returned in the
evening to the house； to bring away in a hack cab the things I had
left there； with my poor dog's body。 In this task I was not
disturbed； nor did any incident worth note befall me； except that
still； on ascending and descending the stairs； I heard the same
footfall in advance。 On leaving the house； I went to Mr。 J's。
He was at home。 I returned him the keys； told him that my
curiosity was sufficiently gratified； and was about to relate
quickly what had passed； when he stopped me； and said； though with
much politeness； that he had no longer any interest in a mystery
which none had ever solved。
I determined at least to tell him of the two letters I had read； as
well as of the extraordinary manner in which they had disappeared；
and I then inquired if he thought they had been addressed to the
woman who had died in the house； and if there were anything in her
early history which could possibly confirm the dark suspicions to
which the letters gave rise。 Mr。 J seemed startled； and； after
musing a few moments； answered； 〃I am but little acquainted with
the woman's earlier history； except as I before told you； that her
family were known to mine。 But you revive some vague reminiscences
to her prejudice。 I will make inquiries； and inform you of their
result。 Still； even if we could admit the popular superstition
that a person who had been either the perpetrator or the victim of
dark crimes in life could revisit； as a restless spirit； the scene
in which those crimes had been committed； I should observe that the
house was infested by strange sights and sounds before the old
woman diedyou smilewhat would you say？〃
〃I would say this； that I am convinced； if we