Twice, I could have sworn there was a knocking and whispering at the outer door.

With these fears upon me, I began either to imagine or recall that I had had mysterious warnings of this man's approach.

That, for weeks gone by, I had passed faces in the streets which I had thought like his.

That these likenesses had grown more numerous, as he, coming over the sea, had drawn nearer.

That his wicked spirit had somehow sent these messengers to mine, and that now on this stormy night he was as good as his word, and with me.
Crowding up with these reflections came the reflection that I had seen him with my childish eyes to be a desperately violent man; that I had heard that other convict reiterate that he had tried to murder him; that I had seen him down in the ditch tearing and fighting like a wild beast.