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the landlord。 'Shut up at twelve； Ben；' he heard it say。 'I'm off to bed。'
He wiped away the damp that had gathered on his forehead； reasoned
with himself for a little while； and resolved to shake his mind free of the
ghastly counterfeit which still clung to it； by forcing himself to confront； if
it was only for a moment； the solemn reality。 Without allowing himself
an instant to hesitate； he parted the curtains at the foot of the bed； and
looked through。
There was a sad； peaceful； white face； with the awful mystery of
stillness on it； laid back upon the pillow。 No stir； no change there！ He
only looked at it for a moment before he closed the curtains again … but
that moment steadied him； calmed him； restored him … mind and body … to
himself。
He returned to his old occupation of walking up and down the room；
persevering in it； this time； till the clock struck again。 Twelve。
As the sound of the clock…bell died away； it was succeeded by the
confused noise； down…stairs； of the drinkers in the tap…room leaving the
house。 The next sound； after an interval of silence； was caused by the
barring of the door； and the closing of the shutters； at the back of the Inn。
Then the silence followed again； and was disturbed no more。
He was alone now … absolutely； utterly； alone with the dead man； till
the next morning。
The wick of the candle wanted trimming again。 He took up the
snuffers … but paused suddenly on the very point of using them； and looked
attentively at the candle … then back； over his shoulder； at the curtained bed
… then again at the candle。 It had been lighted； for the first time； to show
him the way up…stairs； and three parts of it； at least； were already
consumed。 In another hour it would be burnt out。 In another hour …
unless he called at once to the man who had shut up the Inn； for a fresh
candle … he would be left in the dark。
Strongly as his mind had been affected since he had entered his room；
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
his unreasonable dread of encountering ridicule； and of exposing his
courage to suspicion； had not altogether lost its influence over him； even
yet。 He lingered irresolutely by the table； waiting till he could prevail on
himself to open the door； and call； from the landing； to the man who had
shut up the Inn。 In his present hesitating frame of mind； it was a kind of
relief to gain a few moments only by engaging in the trifling occupation of
snuffing the candle。 His hand trembled a little； and the snuffers were
heavy and awkward to use。 When he closed them on the wick； he closed
them a hair's breadth too low。 In an instant the candle was out； and the
room was plunged in pitch darkness。
The one impression which the absence of light immediately produced
on his mind； was distrust of the curtained bed … distrust which shaped itself
into no distinct idea； but which was powerful enough in its very vagueness；
to bind him down to his chair； to make his heart beat fast； and to set him
listening intently。 No sound stirred in the room but the familiar sound of
the rain against the window； louder and sharper now than he had heard it
yet。
Still the vague distrust； the inexpressible dread possessed him； and
kept him to his chair。 He had put his carpet…bag on the table； when he
first entered the room； and he now took the key from his pocket； reached
out his hand softly； opened the bag； and groped in it for his travelling
writing…case； in which he knew that there was a small store of matches。
When he had got one of the matches； he waited before he struck it on the
coarse wooden table； and listened intently again； without knowing why。
Still there was no sound in the room but the steady； ceaseless； rattling
sound of the rain。
He lighted the candle again； without another moment of delay and； on
the instant of its burning up； the first object in the room that his eyes
sought for was the curtained bed。
Just before the light had been put out； he had looked in that direction；
and had seen no change； no disarrangement of any sort； in the folds of the
closely…drawn curtains。
When he looked at the bed； now； he saw； hanging over the side of it； a
long white hand。
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
It lay perfectly motionless； midway on the side of the bed； where the
curtain at the head and the curtain at the foot met。 Nothing more was
visible。 The clinging curtains hid everything but the long white hand。
He stood looking at it unable to stir； unable to call out； feeling nothing；
knowing nothing； every faculty he possessed gathered up and lost in the
one seeing faculty。 How long that first panic held him he never could tell
afterwards。 It might have been only for a moment； it might have been for
many minutes together。 How he got to the bed … whether he ran to it
headlong； or whether he approached it slowly … how he wrought himself
up to unclose the curtains and look in； he never has remembered； and
never will remember to his dying day。 It is enough that he did go to the
bed； and that he did look inside the curtains。
The man had moved。 One of his arms was outside the clothes； his
face was turned a little on the pillow； his eyelids were wide open。 Changed
as to position； and as to one of the features； the face was； otherwise；
fearfully and wonderfully unaltered。 The dead paleness and the dead
quiet were on it still
One glance showed Arthur this … one glance； before he flew
breathlessly to the door； and alarmed the house。
The man whom the landlord called 'Ben；' was the first to appear on the
stairs。 In three words； Arthur told him what had happened； and sent him
for the nearest doctor。
I； who tell you this story； was then staying with a medical friend of
mine； in practice at Doncaster； taking care of his patients for him； during
his absence in London； and I； for the time being； was the nearest doctor。
They had sent for me from the Inn； when the stranger was taken ill in