e came,
apparently from the air immediately above his bed, a sharp, ringing,
tinkling sound, which I can only compare with the noise made by a
bicycle alarm, though it differed from this in having a distinctly
throbbing character. I have never, before or since, heard any sound
which could be confounded with it.

I stared round in astonishment, wondering where it could have come from,
but without perceiving anything to which it could be ascribed.

"It's all right, doctor," the general said with a ghastly smile. "It's
only my private gong. Perhaps you had better step downstairs and write
my prescription in the dining-room."

He was evidently anxious to get rid of me, so I was forced to take my
departure, though I would gladly have stayed a little longer, in the
hope of learning something as to the origin of the mysterious sound.

I drove away from the house with the full determination of calling again
upon my interesting patient, and endeavouring to elicit some further
particulars as to his past life and his present circumstances. I was
destined, however, to be disappointed, for I received that very evening
a note from the general himself, enclosing a handsome fee for my single
visit, and informing me that my treatment had done him so much good that
he considered himself to be convalescent, and would not trouble me to
see him again.

This was the last and only communication which I ever received from the
tenant of Cloomber.

I have been asked frequently by neighbours and others who were
interested in the matter whether he gave me the impression of insanity.
To this I must unhesitatingly answer in the negative. On the contrary,
his remarks gave me the idea of a man who had both read and thought
deeply.

I observed, however, during our single interview, that his reflexes
were feeble, his arcus senilis well marked, and his arteries
atheromatous--all signs that his constitution was in an unsatisfactory
condition, and that a sudden crisis might be apprehended.

CHAPTER X. OF THE LETTER WHICH CAME FROM THE HALL

Having thrown this side-light upon my narrative, I can now resume the
statement of my own personal experiences. These I had brought down, as
the reader will doubtless remember, to the date of the arrival of the
savage-looking wanderer who called himself Corporal Rufus Smith. This
incident occurred about the beginning of the month of October, and I
find upon a comparison of dates that Dr. Easterling's visi