dear to him; Should the Ghost's
prediction prove true; Should Antonia in three days be no more, and He
the wretched cause of her death ...... The supposition was too
horrible to dwell upon. He drove away these dreadful images, and as
often they presented themselves again before him. Matilda had assured
him that the effects of the Opiate would be speedy. He listened with
fear, yet with eagerness, expecting to hear some disturbance in the
adjoining chamber. All was still silent. He concluded that the drops
had not begun to operate. Great was the stake, for which He now
played: A moment would suffice to decide upon his misery or happiness.
Matilda had taught him the means of ascertaining that life was not
extinct for ever: Upon this assay depended all his hopes. With every
instant his impatience redoubled; His terrors grew more lively, his
anxiety more awake. Unable to bear this state of incertitude, He
endeavoured to divert it by substituting the thoughts of Others to his
own. The Books, as was before mentioned, were ranged upon shelves near
the Table: This stood exactly opposite to the Bed, which was placed in
an Alcove near the Closet door. Ambrosio took down a Volume, and
seated himself by the Table: But his attention wandered from the Pages
before him. Antonia's image and that of the murdered Elvira persisted
to force themselves before his imagination. Still He continued to
read, though his eyes ran over the characters without his mind being
conscious of their import. Such was his occupation, when He fancied
that He heard a footstep. He turned his head, but nobody was to be
seen.

He resumed his Book; But in a few minutes after the same sound was
repeated, and followed by a rustling noise close behind him. He now
started from his seat, and looking round him, perceived the Closet door
standing half-unclosed. On his first entering the room He had tried to
open it, but found it bolted on the inside.

'How is this?' said He to himself; 'How comes this door unfastened?'

He advanced towards it: He pushed it open, and looked into the closet:
No one was there. While He stood irresolute, He thought that He
distinguished a groaning in the adjacent chamber: It was Antonia's,
and He supposed that the drops began to take effect: But upon
listening more attentively, He found the noise to be caused by
Jacintha, who had fallen asleep by the Lady's Bedside, and was snoring
most lustily. Ambrosio drew back, a