On
inquiring if there was any place in which I could sleep, I was
informed that there was a bed at my service, provided I chose to
sleep in a two-bedded room, one of the beds of which was engaged by
another gentleman. I expressed my satisfaction at this
arrangement, and was conducted by a maid-servant up many pairs of
stairs to a garret, in which were two small beds, in one of which
she gave me to understand another gentleman slept; he had, however,
not yet retired to rest; I asked who he was, but the maid-servant
could give me no information about him, save that he was a highly
respectable gentleman, and a friend of her master's. Presently,
bidding me good night, she left me with a candle; and I, having
undressed myself and extinguished the light, went to bed.
Notwithstanding the noises which sounded from every part of the
house, I was not slow in falling asleep, being thoroughly tired. I
know not how long I might have been in bed, perhaps two hours, when
I was partially awakened by a light shining upon my face,
whereupon, unclosing my eyes, I perceived the figure of a man, with
a candle in one hand, staring at my face, whilst with the other
hand, he held back the curtain of the bed. As I have said before,
I was only partially awakened, my power of conception was
consequently very confused; it appeared to me, however, that the
man was dressed in a green coat; that he had curly brown or black
hair, and that there was something peculiar in his look.
Pages:
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352