apparition himself, and that
I was glad I hadn't given him a pretty warm reception, as, from my
recent experience in the field, I was, not unnaturally, rather apt to
think that people who came in upon me in that sort of fashion were not
exactly friendly. I added that I could scarcely be expected to answer
for myself, in that respect, in the future.

"'As I said this the man kept on smiling and shaking his head; and,
when I had finished, he said, very softly and gently:

"'"Well, my dear neighbour, I hope you won't be annoyed. Ay--ay--the
fact is, I thought, I felt quite _sure_ it would be so, and this
morning I knew it had been, I felt so well and happy, so composed and
reassured in myself. You see, I'm a very anxious, nervous man: how
could it be otherwise? Yes, yes: and so they say that, the day after
to-morrow,--"

"'And he went on to talk about common, every-day gossip of the town,
and then to other matters connected with the place, likely to be of
interest to a new arrival; and all this he dished up not without a
spice of irony which was entertaining enough. So, now that he began to
be interesting, I went back to the events of the night, and asked him
to tell me, without reserve or hesitation, what had induced him to come
and wake me up in that alarming manner.

"'"Ah, my dear neighbour," he said, "I really hope you won't be much
annoyed with me for taking the liberty--I'm sure I scarcely know how I
could have been so bold. It was only that I was anxious to know how you
were disposed towards me. I'm an exceedingly anxious, nervous man; and
a new neighbour can be a very painful trial to me till I know what
terms we're going to be upon."

"'I assured this extraordinary fellow that, so far, I hadn't the
slightest idea what he was driving at; and then he took me by the hand,
and led me into his room.

"'"Why should I hide from you, dear neighbour," he said, taking me to
the window--"why should I deny, or make any secret of the miraculous
power which I possess? God's strength is made perfect in our weakness;
and thus it is that, to me, wretched creature that I am, exposed
without shield to all the fiery darts of the adversary, has been
vouchsafed, as a means of help and protection, the miraculous power of
seeing, under certain conditions, into the hearts of men, and reading
their inmost thoughts. I take up this clear, bright vessel, containing
distilled water" (he took a tall drinking-glass from the window-sill,