The man had turned about and was coming back.

As he passed under the lamp on the opposite corner I thought I recognized the slim figure of Mr.Murmurtot.Suddenly I was startled by a noise in the room adjoining ours, and sprang to my feet in a tremor.
Plague take my imagination! It was somebody going to bed.

I sat down again and for a long time looked out at the man walking back and forth in front of the house.

I was rapidly getting into a condition of mind unfavorable to rest and, closing the shutters, I went to bed at once.
For hours I lay tossing restlessly from one side to the other, and finally fell into a deep sleep.

I must have slept a long time when I suddenly awoke, laboring with nightmare.