Shewasstandingmotionlessinthemiddleoftheroom——notlikealivingwoman——likeamachinewaitingtobesetinmovement。
Findingituselesstospeaktoher，hetouchedherwithastrangesensationofshrinkinginhimashedidit，andpointedtothepartitionwall。
Thetouchrousedher。Withslowstepandvacantface——movingasifshewaswalkinginhersleep——sheledthewaytothepaperedwall；kneltdownattheskirting-board；and，takingouttwosmallsharpnails，liftedupalongstripofthepaperwhichhadbeendetachedfromtheplasterbeneath。Mountingonachair，sheturnedbackthestripandpinneditup，outoftheway，usingthetwonails，whichshehadkeptreadyinherhand。
Bythelastdimraysoftwilight，Geoffreylookedatthewall。
Ahollowspacemethisview。Atadistanceofsomethreefeetfromthefloor，thelathshadbeensawnaway，andtheplasterhadbeenrippedout，piecemeal，soastoleaveacavity，sufficientinheightandwidthtoallowfreepowerofworkinginanydirection，toaman’sarms。Thecavitycompletelypiercedthesubstanceofthewall。Nothingbutthepaperontheothersidepreventedeyeorhandfrompenetratingintothenextroom。