Madam's excellent
brother did not accompany us. He declared his intention to remain on
that night at the parsonage. He would call at Fonthill on the next
day--on the day after, he proposed to continue his way to Georgia. His
eyes were not a pleasant spectacle as he uttered these words, and I
observed a singular pallor came to madam's countenance. But I was in no
mood to nourish suspicion. At the height of happiness, I looked
serenely down upon all the world, and with the hand of _my wife_ in my
own, was driven rapidly to Fonthill.
"We arrived in the afternoon, and dined in state, all alone. Madam did
the honors of _her table_ with exquisite grace, but more than once I
saw her hand shake in a very singular way, as she carried food or a
glass to her lips.
"After dinner she bade me a smiling courtesy, leaving me to find
company in my cigar, she said; and tripped off to her chamber.
"Well, I lit my cigar, retired to the library, and seating myself in an
arm-chair before the fire, began to reflect. It was nearly the middle
of December, and through the opening in the curtains I could see the
moonlight on the chill expanse of the lawn.
"I had just taken my seat, when I heard a step in the passage, the door
of the library opened, and Nighthawk, as pale as a ghost, and with a
strange expression in his eyes, entered the apartment.
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