Sir David Suchet

Resisting the slow touch of a frozen finger tracing out my spine,

I showed him how that this figure must be a deception of his sense of sight, and how that figures originating in disease of the delicate nerves that minister to the functions of the eye were known to have often troubled patients, some of whom had become conscious of the nature of their affliction and had even proved it by experiments upon themselves.

As to an imaginary cry, said I, do but listen for a moment to the wind in this unnatural valley while we speak so low, and to the wild harp it makes of the telegraph wires.

Well, that was all very well, he returned, after we had sat listening for a while.

And he ought to know something of the wind and the wiles, he who so often passed long winter's nights there, alone and watching.

But he would beg to remark that he had not finished.

I asked his pardon, and he slowly added these words, touching my arm.

within six hours after the appearance.

The memorable accident on this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and wounded were brought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood.

A disagreeable shudder crept over me, but I did my best against it.

It was not to be denied, I rejoined.

that this was a remarkable coincidence, calculated deeply to impress his mind.

But it was unquestionable that remarkable coincidences did continually occur, and they must be taken into account in dealing with such a subject.

Though to be sure I must admit, I added, for I thought I saw that he was going to bring the objection to bear upon me,

Men of common sense did not allow much for coincidences in making the ordinary calculations of life.

He again begged to remark that he had not finished.

I again begged his pardon for being betrayed into interruptions.

This, he said again, laying his hand upon my arm and glancing over his shoulder with hollow eyes, was just a year ago.

Six or seven months passed, and I had recovered from the surprise and shock when one morning, as the day was breaking, I, standing at the door, looked towards the red light and saw the spectre again.

He stopped with a fixed look at me.