His insanity seemed to me to be now more marked than ever.

He had seen, or dreamed of seeing, the ghost during the past night.

For the first time (he said) the apparition of the dead man had spoken to him.

In solemn words it had condemned him to expiate his crime by giving his life for the life that he had taken.

It had warned him not to insist on marriage with Bertha Laroche: "She shall share your punishment if she shares your life.