I sat on for a while in a long ver-Jandah chair enjoying a smoke and a last whisky-soda, but the me sects were troublesome, and ultimate-
T went to bed early at about ten Joclock, and pretty soon turned out light.
T cannot say precisely at what hour the apparition arrived, but my impression is that it was well after midnight. In the wide doorway it loomed whitely, swaying from side to side. Then with outstretched, appealing arms it began to move forward jgropingly, and 1 felt the hair of my scalp rising. I tried to remind myself that there was nothing to fear from this poor, restless thing, but never. theless cold shivers raced up an Jdown my spine. The approach was slow and painful, and the figure seemed to move with difficulty, and with a shufBing motion, until its hands touched the coverlet, and 1 realized with horror that it was try Ing to get into bed with me. With a great effort I pulled myself together Jand said as calmly a I could—"Who are you? What do you want?"
The figure stopped, and there was 'a dreadful silence: and then it said —"Shorry old chap. "Musht be wrong Foot.
Yes," I replied, "it is" The sud-Jden recollection of the "business dlinner" recurred to my mind, and feame to me with a flood of pity for {this poor creature that there might well be a wife waiting with a poker behind the door across the dining-oom. I recalled the prim, thin face, with whom T had dined. said thanking providence for my fbachelorhood. "Come, let me help yeu."
To this he made no comment either jway, and T started to guide his uncertain footsteps. He had, T discover-}ed, already removed his dinner jacket, Jand T found it next morning together with his tie and waistcoat behind the dressing table. The figure wat thus dressed exclusively in a white stiff fehirt and collar. 'Taking his arm, 1 Jed him towards the door. We pro-grossed. at "an incredibly slow' pace, and with the same shuting gait, which a pool of moonlight revealed to me was due to his trousers having slipped down round his ankles, restricting his movements as would a pair of shackles. In this fashion we crossed the dining-room. He seemed distinctly inclined to make for another door, but I guided him firmly to his correct destination. "Now pull your: self together," I whispered, turned the handle ever so gently. and pused him in, Then T closed the door quietly behind him, and with the consclousness of having behaved rather well toa complete stranger, I retired.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.