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. It was no unusual thing
for him to work all night and far into the next day, so no one thought to
be surprised. When, however, evening came, and yet he did not appear,
his servants gathered outside the room and whispered, remembering what
had happened once before.
"They listened, but could hear no sound. They shook the door and called
to him, then beat with their fists upon the wooden panels.
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