August27-Heatherleghhasbeenindefatigableinhisattendanceonme；andonlyyesterdaytoldmethatIoughttosendinanapplicationforsickleaveAnapplicationtoescapethecompanyofaphantom！ArequestthattheGovernmentwouldgraciouslypermitmetogetridoffiveghostsandanairy’rickshawbygoingtoEnglandHeatherlegh’spropositionmovedmetoalmosthystericallaughterItoldhimthatIshouldawaittheendquietlyatSimla；andIamsurethattheendisnotfaroffBelievemethatI
dreaditsadventmorethananywordcansay；andItorturemyselfnightlywithathousandspeculationsastothemannerofmydeath。
ShallIdieinmybeddecentlyandasanEnglishgentlemanshoulddie；or，inonelastwalkontheMall，willmysoulbewrenchedfrommetotakeitsplaceforeverandeverbythesideofthatghastlyphantasm？ShallIreturntomyoldlostallegianceinthenextworld，orshallImeetAgnesloathingherandboundtohersidethroughalleternity？ShallwetwohoveroverthesceneofourlivestilltheendofTime？Asthedayofmydeathdrawsnearer，theintensehorrorthatalllivingfleshfeelstowardescapedspiritsfrombeyondthegravegrowsmoreandmorepowerfulItisanawfulthingtogodownquickamongthedeadwithscarcelyone-halfofyourlifecompletedItisathousandtimesmoreawfultowaitasIdoinyourmidst，forIknownotwhatunimaginableterrorPityme，atleastonthescoreofmy“delusion。”forI
knowyouwillneverbelievewhatIhavewrittenhereYetassurelyaseveramanwasdonetodeathbythePowersofDarknessIamthatman。
Injustice，too，pityherForassurelyaseverwomanwaskilledbyman，IkilledMrsWessingtonAndthelastportionofmypunishmentisevernowuponme。