But when he came to the house, he lacked, brave as he was, the heart to enter; and passing it, he spent the time until daybreak, in walking up and down the rampart within hearing of the sentries.
His mind grown somewhat calmer, he set himself to recall, precisely and exactly, the thing that had happened.

But recall it as he might, he could not account for it.

The words of blasphemy that had scorched his ears as the key entered the lock, had been uttered, he was sure, in no voice known to him; nay more, in no voice of human intonation.

How could he explain them?
How account for them save in one way?
How defend his cowardice save on one ground?
He shuddered, gazing at the house, and murmuring now a prayer, and now a word of exorcism.

But the day had come, the sky was red, and the sun was near its rising before he took courage and dared to cross the threshold..