\"ButIwasrousedbythecastleclockstrikingone，soloudthatitseemedasifitwereintheveryroom。ItwassometimebeforeIdaredopenmyeyes，lesttheyshouldagainencounterthehorriblespectacle。When，however，Isummonedcouragetolookup，shewasnolongervisible。Myfirstideawastopullmybell，waketheservants，andremovetoagarretorahay—loft，tobeensuredagainstasecondvisitation。Nay，Iwillconfessthetruththatmyresolutionwasaltered，notbytheshameofexposingmyself，butbythefearthat，asthebell—cordhungbythechimney，Imight，inmakingmywaytoit，beagaincrossedbythefiendishhag，who，Ifiguredtomyself，mightbestilllurkingaboutsomecorneroftheapartment。
\"Iwillnotpretendtodescribewhathotandcoldfever—fitstormentedmefortherestofthenight，throughbrokensleep，wearyvigils，andthatdubiousstatewhichformstheneutralgroundbetweenthem。Ahundredterribleobjectsappearedtohauntme；buttherewasthegreatdifferencebetwixtthevisionwhichIhavedescribed，andthosewhichfollowed，thatIknewthelasttobedeceptionsofmyownfancyandover—excitednerves。
\"Dayatlastappeared，andIrosefrommybedillinhealthandhumiliatedinmind。Iwasashamedofmyselfasamanandasoldier，andstillmoresoatfeelingmyownextremedesiretoescapefromthehauntedapartment，which，however，conqueredallotherconsiderations；sothat，huddlingonmyclotheswiththemostcarelesshaste，Imademyescapefromyourlordship’smansion，toseekintheopenairsomerelieftomynervoussystem，shakenasitwasbythishorriblerencounterwithavisitant，forsuchImustbelieveher，fromtheotherworld。
Yourlordshiphasnowheardthecauseofmydiscomposure，andofmysuddendesiretoleaveyourhospitablecastle。InotherplacesItrustwemayoftenmeet，butGodprotectmefromeverspendingasecondnightunderthatroof！\"
StrangeastheGeneral’stalewas，hespokewithsuchadeepairofconvictionthatitcutshortalltheusualcommentarieswhicharemadeonsuchstories。LordWoodvilleneveronceaskedhimifhewassurehedidnotdreamoftheapparition，orsuggestedanyofthepossibilitiesbywhichitisfashionabletoexplainsupernaturalappearancesaswildvagariesofthefancy，ordeceptionsoftheopticnerves，Onthecontrary，heseemeddeeplyimpressedwiththetruthandrealityofwhathehadheard；and，afteraconsiderablepauseregretted，withmuchappearanceofsincerity，thathisearlyfriendshouldinhishousehavesufferedsoseverely。