light how he was situated and whether there was any chance of escape that way, by letting himself down to the ground, he fancied he heard a slight movement in the room behind him, and turning suddenly round to investigate the cause, he, to his horror, beheld, by the light of a night lamp that stood on the table, a ghastly figure of a man in a bloody shirt and night cap, peeping out between the curtains of the bed, who the moment Valentine's eye met his, let go the curtain and disappeared.
"Transfixed with fear and horror, the young man at first stood motionless, staring on the curtains, from between which he expected again to see the fearful apparition emerge; but all remaining quiet, he presently ventured to cast his eyes round the room to ascertain if there were any one else in it besides himself and the figure he had seen; but perceiving no one, he next summoned courage to advance towards the table, take up the lamp, and approach the bed.
"Valentine was young, and his situation was so extraordinary, that he may be excused for hesitating some time before he ventured to withdraw the curtain; when, however, at length, he did so, there lay the person he had
