"No," I said, with a brief laugh. "I told you yesterday that my nerves were in tolerable order. I think my surmise was correct, and that the apparition has tangible form and can be traced to its foundation." An unbelieving look swept over Sir Henry's face. "Ah," he said, "doctors are very hard to convince. Everything must be brought down to a cold material level to satisfy them; but several nights in that room would shatter even your nerves, my friend." "You are quite right," I answered. "I should be very sorry to spend several nights in that room. Now I will tell you briefly what occurred." We were standing in the library. Sir Henry went to the door, locked it, and put the key in his pocket. "Can I come in?" said a voice outside. The voice was Lady Studley's. "In a minute, my darling," answered her husband. "I am engaged with Halifax just at present." "Medically, I suppose?" she answered. "Yes, medically," he responded. She went away at once, and Sir Henry returned to my side. "Now speak," he said. "Be quick. She is sure to return, and I don't like her to fancy that we are talking secrets." "This is my story," I said. "I went into your room, put out all the lights, and sat on the edge of the bed." "You did not get into bed, then?" "No, I preferred to be up and to be ready for immediate action should the apparition, the horror, or whatever you call it, appear." "Good God, it is a horror, Halifax!" "It is, Sir Henry. A more diabolical contrivance for frightening a man into his grave could scarcely have been contrived. I can comfort you on one point, however. The terrible thing you saw is not a figment of your brain. There is no likelihood of a lunatic asylum in your case. Someone is playing you a trick." "I cannot agree with you--but proceed," said the baronet, impatiently. "I sat for about an hour on the edge of the bed," I continued. "When I entered the room it was twelve o'clock--one had sounded before there was the least stir or appearance of anything, then the ticking noise you have described was distinctly audible. This was followed by a sudden bright light, which seemed to proceed out of the recesses of the wardrobe." "What did you feel when you saw that light?" "Too excited to be nervous," I answered, briefly. "Out of the circle of light the horrible eye looked at me." "What did you do then? Did you faint?" "No, I went noiselessly across the carpet up to the door of the wardrobe and looked in." "Heavens! you are daring. I wonder you are alive to tell this tale." "I saw a shadowy form," I replied--"dark and tall--the one brilliant eye kept on looking past me, straight into the room. I made a very slight noise; it immediately disappeared. I waited for some time--nothing more happened. I got into your bed, Sir Henry, and slept. I can't say that I had a comfortable night, but I slept, and was not disturbed by anything extraordinary for the remaining hours of the night."