There was not any noise of moving, and no kind of cry at all; but there was a queer kind of dragging sound, and a slow, heavy breathing.

Oh! it was dreadful, waiting there in the dark and the silence, and fearing--fearing I did not know what! "At last I took my courage a deux mains, and turning the handle as softly as I could, I opened the door a tiny bit.

It was quite dark within; I could just see the outline of the windows.

But in the darkness the sound of breathing, becoming more distinct, was appalling.
As I listened, this continued; but there was no other sound.

I pushed the door open all at once.