Page:Adventures of Susan Hopley (Volume 1).pdf/298

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SUSAN HOPLEY.
283

niture of the apartment he was in, was not only handsome, but abundant. Had the occupant of the bed been murdered? But, no; it did not seem probable that, in that case, a notary of all persons should have been sent for, unless by the friends of the victim; and none such appeared; so that he rather concluded the stains about the linen proceeded from the patient's having been lately bled.

"Again he examined the room, the window, and the door; but without finding any means of escape. He remembered he had a clasp-knife in his pocket, and thought that by its assistance he might possibly pick the lock; but it broke in the attempt, so having tried all he could without success, he saw nothing left but patience, and resolved to compose his mind as well as he could, and sit down quietly to await the events of the morning.

"In spite of his unpleasant situation, he had not sat long, before he fell into a doze, from which he was aroused by what appeared to him some movement of the person in the bed. Hastily he started up, and seizing the lamp, drew aside the curtain—but all was still as before. Again, he spoke—but no sign of life was given; so concluding it had been fancy, he once more