"Fearful and ghastly to me- oh，sir，I never saw a face like it! It was a discoloured face- it was a savage face. I wish I could forget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments!"

"Ghosts are usually pale，Jane."

"This，sir，was purple: the lips were swelled and dark; the brow furrowed: the black eyebrows widely raised over the bloodshot eyes.

Shall I tell you of what it reminded me?"

"You may."

"Of the foul German spectre- the Vampyre."

"Ah!- what did it do?"

"Sir，it removed my veil from its gaunt head，rent it in two parts，and flinging both on the floor，trampled on them."

"Afterwards?"

"It drew aside the window-curtain and looked out; perhaps it saw dawn approaching，for，taking the candle，it retreated to the door.

Just at my bedside，the figure stopped: the fiery eyes glared upon me- she thrust up her candle close to my face，and extinguished it under my eyes. I was aware her lurid visage flamed over mine，and I lost consciousness: for the second time in my life- only the second time- I became insensible from terror."

"Who was with you when you revived?"

"No one，sir，but the broad day. I rose，bathed my head and face in water，drank a long draught; felt that though enfeebled I was not ill，and determined that to none but you would I impart this vision. Now sir，tell me who and what that woman was?"

"The creature of an over-stimulated brain; that is certain. I must be careful of you，my treasure: nerves like yours were not made for rough handling."

"Sir，depend on it，my nerves were not in fault; the thing was real: the transaction actually took place."