“‘So am I!’ I managed to utter, speaking instinctively.  ’I’m simply terrified.’

“‘Yes,’ he replied in that same odd voice that seemed to sound within me.  ‘But you are still in the flesh, and I—­am not!’

“I felt the need for vigorous self-assertion.  I stood up in that empty, unfurnished room, digging the nails into my palms and clenching my teeth.  I was determined to assert my individuality and my courage as a new woman and a free soul.

“‘You mean to say you are not in the flesh!’ I gasped.  ’What in the world are you talking about?’

“The silence of the night swallowed up my voice.  For the first time I realized that darkness was over the city; that dust lay upon the stairs; that the floor above was untenanted and the floor below empty.  I was alone in an unoccupied and haunted house, unprotected, and a woman.  I chilled.  I heard the wind round the house, and knew the stars were hidden.  My thoughts rushed to policemen and omnibuses, and everything that was useful and comforting.  I suddenly realized what a fool I was to come to such a house alone.  I was icily afraid.  I thought the end of my life had come.  I was an utter fool to go in for psychical research when I had not the necessary nerve.

“‘Good God!’ I gasped.  ’If you’re not Carey, the man I arranged with, who are you?’

“I was really stiff with terror.  The man moved slowly towards me across the empty room.  I held out my arm to stop him, getting up out of my chair at the same moment, and he came to halt just opposite to me, a smile on his worn, sad face.

“‘I told you who I am,’ he repeated quietly with a sigh, looking at me with the saddest eyes I have ever seen, ‘and I am frightened still.’

“By this time I was convinced that I was entertaining either a rogue or a madman, and I cursed my stupidity in bringing the man in without having seen his face.  My mind was quickly made up, and I knew what to do.  Ghosts and psychic phenomena flew to the winds.  If I angered the creature my life might pay the price.  I must humor him till I got to the door, and then race for the street.  I stood bolt upright and faced him.  We were about of a height, and I was a strong, athletic woman who played hockey in winter and climbed Alps in summer.  My hand itched for a stick, but I had none.

“‘Now, of course, I remember,’ I said with a sort of stiff smile that was very hard to force.  ’Now I remember your case and the wonderful way you behaved . . . .’

“The man stared at me stupidly, turning his head to watch me as I backed more and more quickly to the door.  But when his face broke into a smile I could control myself no longer.  I reached the door in a run, and shot out on to the landing.  Like a fool, I turned the wrong way, and stumbled over the stairs leading to the next story.  But it was too late to change.  The man was after me, I was sure, though no sound of footsteps came; and I dashed up the next flight, tearing my skirt and banging my ribs in the darkness, and rushed headlong into the first room I came to.  Luckily the door stood ajar, and, still more fortunate, there was a key in the lock.  In a second I had slammed the door, flung my whole weight against it, and turned the key.