Then I heard a grating noise overhead, like the dragging of a heavy body across the floor; then the throwing down of the body, and the shaking of my windows in response to the concussion.

In distant parts of the building I heard the muffled slamming of doors.

I heard, at intervals, stealthy footsteps creeping in and out among the corridors, and up and down the stairs.

Sometimes these noises approached my door, hesitated, and went away again.

I heard the clanking of chains faintly, in remote passages, and listened while the clanking grew nearer--while it wearily climbed the stairways, marking each move by the loose surplus of chain that fell with an accented rattle upon each succeeding step as the goblin that bore it advanced.