I held my breath, and listened.

As I listened, it ceased--was renewed--drew nearer--paused outside the door.
Involuntarily, I rose and looked round for some means of defence, in case of need.

Was I brought here to perpetuate the record of a crime, and was I, when my task was done, to be silenced in a dungeon, or a grave?
This thought flashed upon me almost before I was conscious of the horror it involved.

At the same moment, I saw the handle of the door turned slowly and cautiously--then held back--and then, after a brief pause, the door itself gradually opening." Here the student paused as if overcome by the recollection of that moment, and passed his hand nervously across his brow.

I took the liberty of pushing our bottle of Chablis towards him, for which he thanked me with a nod and a smile, and filled his glass to the brim.
"Well ?" cried two or three voices eagerly; my own being one of them.
"The door opened--what then ?" "And a lady entered," he continued.