Give me your hand; I will precede you." She seized the hand of the visitor, and whilst guiding him to the staircase, she said: "Your hand trembles, signor.

Are you afraid ?" "I afraid!" said the other, in a faltering voice.

"Afraid of what?
The darkness makes me totter." "It may be, signor; but I thought your hand was cold and trembling.

Here is the staircase; now follow me." The man ascended the staircase behind her, stumbling up the well-worn steps, striking his head and elbows against invisible objects, and grumbling and swearing as if to show that he was not agitated by fear.
Having reached the first story, the woman opened a door and introduced her companion into a room lighted by the smoking flame of an iron lamp.

She showed him a miserable chair, and said: "Sit down, signor, if you please, and wait a while.