from the deepest wells of rebellion delicious draughts of secret sin,
thanking, yea thanking, this sweet madness which gave a glorious
independence.

What repugnance had I now for yon piece of foul and rotting carrion!
What mattered if but lately a breathing man it had strangled in my
grip. By the gods, a knightly feat and most bravely done! And I
laughed at my former fear, not loud, but such as laughed the fiends of
hell when Lucifer rose against his Prince. Low I chuckled, then
shivered at my own unnatural voice.

Dead now to every sense of physical loathing I advanced steadfastly
towards where he lay. Shorn of human companions my wretchedness sought
a lonely comradeship with the piece of mortal clay. Turning now and
again to beat back some skinny hand which snatched my garments, to slap
in the face some evil sprite which thrust its sneer upon me, I walked
in resolution across the floor. I fancied again I heard the tread of
men in the passage. Pleased at the babble of the children of my own
imagination, I stood to listen. Yes, by the wit of a fool, I'll
indulge the jest, a joyous jibe and a merry.

The low shuffle of cautious feet came again. The latch clanked ever so
softly as if some hand without lifted it gently, oh so gently raised
it. "Ha! here you are, seeking to frighten me again, but I know you
well. No, no, you'll scare me no more; I'll play a merry game with
you." So I hid myself in the dark, and thought to play a prank upon
the evil Thing. Held my breath.

Elated to find I owned so wondrously fertile a brain I saw the door
open little by little without a creak. A current of liberated air
brushed by my cheek. So real it was, I smiled. The door swung wider
and wider yet, in the dark I saw it. Verily the sight of a madman is
sharp. The wind blew more chill and strong. I saw a gleam peeping
beneath a cloak as from a hidden lanthorn; I bethought me I would catch
the tiny wanderer from the floor and hold it in my hand. It came
crawling and crawling, on and on, wavering to my feet. So many times
that night had I manned myself valiantly to fight a shadow, I only
laughed in silence and contempt at this.

Behold the folly of a madman's thought. Yet the creation of it all
gave me exquisite pleasure, as a child might find delight in some
strange toy from which it could call weird shapes at will. On it moved
with a noiseless, gliding motion; now inside the door, now coming,
coming, coming--n