And the old terror returned to him.
"But this time he meant to conquer himself.

His nerves were stronger now, and his brain clearer; he would fight his unreasoning fear.

He crossed to the door and locked himself in, and flung the key to the other end of the room, where it fell among jars and bottles with an echoing clatter.
"Later on, his old housekeeper, going her final round, tapped at his door and wished him good-night, as was her custom.

She received no response, at first, and, growing nervous, tapped louder and called again; and at length an answering 'good-night' came back to her.
"She thought little about it at the time, but afterwards she remembered that the voice that had replied to her had been strangely grating and mechanical.

Trying to describe it, she likened it to such a voice as she would imagine coming from a statue.
"Next morning his door remained still locked.