She was close to us now, bending over us.

She raised her hand to her head--to shade her eyes, as she looked more closely, I supposed, and I was wondering whether she saw us--whether she took the shapelessness in the shadow of the curtain for her sister, or could not make it out--I was thinking how we could best apprise her of our presence without alarming her--when Croisette dashed my thoughts to the winds! Croisette, with a tremendous whoop and a crash, bounded over me on to the floor! She uttered a gasping cry--a cry of intense, awful fear.

I have the sound in my ears even now.

With that she staggered back, clutching the air.

I heard the metallic clang and ring of something falling on the floor.