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Eleven o'clock had struck The nurse, having placed the beverage prepared by the doctor within reach of the patient, and locked the door, was listening with terror to the co her memory with all the horrible stories which had for some months past amused the occupants of the ante-cha's attorney Meanwhile an unexpected scene was passing in the room which had been so carefully locked Ten minutes had elapsed since the nurse had left; Valentine, who for the last hour had been suffering fro her ideas, was forced to yield to the excite a succession and recurrence of the saht-la itself into soination, when suddenly by its flickering light Valentine thought she saw the door of her library, which was in the recess by the chih she in vain listened for the sound of the hinges on which it turned
At any other time Valentine would have seized the silken bell-pull and su astonished her in her present situation Her reason told her that all the visions she beheld were but the children of her ithened by the fact that in theno traces remained of the nocturnal phantoht Froirl was too familiar with such apparitions to be alarnize Morrel The figure advanced towards the bed and appeared to listen with profound attention At this ht visitor
"It is not he," she murmured, and waited, in the assurance that this was but a dream, for the man to disappear or assu it throb violently she re such illusions was to drink, for a draught of the beverage prepared by the doctor to allay her fever seemed to cause a reaction of the brain, and for a short time she suffered less Valentine therefore reached her hand towards the glass, but as soon as her tre arm left the bed the apparition advanced irl so closely that she fancied she heard his breath, and felt the pressure of his hand
This ti Valentine had before experienced; she began to believe herself really alive and awake, and the belief that her reason was this time not deceived made her shudder The pressure she felt was evidently intended to arrest her arure, from whom she could not detach her eyes, and who appearedtowards the night-light held it up, as if to test its transparency This did not seehost--for he trod so softly that no sound was heard--then poured out about a spoonful into the glass, and drank it Valentine witnessed this scene with a sentiment of stupefaction Every ive place to another vision; but the ain approached her, and said in an agitated voice, "Now you may drink"