Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/35

 good enough, however I could not execute it because he did not return.

Night being far advanced, I laid myself down upon a couch, and the harbinger of sleep suprised me; I began to doze. At once I heard a noise before my door, I got up, and all was hushed in silence. I fancied the noise I had heard had been the effects of those early dreams which sometimes amuse our fancy when sleep is coming on; but soon after I heard the same noise again. I got once more up from my couch, and all was silent again. Listening attentively, I heard the same noise repeated; it grew now louder and louder, and resembled the tapping of somebody who could not find the latch. I was going to open the door, but before I came into the middle of the room, saw it move on its hinges. I stopped, the door opened slowly, and now I could distinguish my visitor, It was a strange figure, tall and emaciated, clad in a white garment. As it entered the -room, it advanced towards me with slow and