man and a brother. He responded
by declining the invitation. I upbraided him. He gave me warning. I
paid him his wages and told him he could go at once. And he has gone.
What are you looking at me like that for?"

"I didn't know," said Father Murchison, hastily dropping his eyes, and
looking away. "Why," he added. "Napoleon is gone too."

"I sold him to-day to one of those shops in Shaftesbury Avenue."

"Why?"

"He sickened me with his abominable imitation of--his intercourse
with--well, you know what he was at last night. Besides, I have no
further need of his proof to tell me I am not dreaming. And, being
convinced as I now am, that all I have thought to have happened has
actually happened, I care very little about convincing others. Forgive
me for saying so, Murchison, but I am now certain that my anxiety to
make you believe in the presence of something here really arose from
some faint doubt on that subject--within myself. All doubt has now
vanished."

"Tell me why."

"I will."

Both men were standing by the fire. They continued to stand while
Guildea went on,

"Last night I felt it."

"What?" cried the Father.

"I say that last night, as I was going upstairs to bed, I felt something
accompanying me and nestling up against me."

"How horrible!" exclaimed the Father, involuntarily.

Guildea smiled drearily.

"I will not deny the horror of it. I cannot, since I was compelled to
call on Pitting for assistance."

"But--tell me--what was it, at least what did it seem to be?"

"It seemed to be a human being. It seemed, I say; and what I mean
exactly is that the effect upon me was rather that of human contact than
of anything else. But I could see nothing, hear nothing. Only, three
times, I felt this gentle, but determined, push against me, as if to
coax me and to attract my attention. The first time it happened I was on
the landing outside this room, with my foot on the first stair. I will
confess to you, Murchison, that I bounded upstairs like one pursued.
That is the shameful truth. Just as I was about to enter my bedroom,
however, I felt the thing entering with me, and, as I have said,
squeezing, with loathsome, sickening tenderness, against my side.
Then----"

He paused, turned towards the fire and leaned his head on his arm. The
Father was greatly moved by the strange helplessness and despair of the
attitude. He laid his hand affectionately on Guildea's shoulder.

"Then?"

Guildea lifted hi