The thing delivering such utterance must rest ere it could repeat the effort.
It came out of the third storey; for it passed overhead.

And overhead--yes, in the room just above my chamber-ceiling--I now heard a struggle: a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half-smothered voice shouted-- "Help! help! help!" three times rapidly.
"Will no one come ?" it cried; and then, while the staggering and stamping went on wildly, I distinguished through plank and plaster:-- "Rochester! Rochester! for God's sake, come!" A chamber-door opened: some one ran, or rushed, along the gallery.
Another step stamped on the flooring above and something fell; and there was silence.
I had put on some clothes, though horror shook all my limbs; I issued from my apartment.

The sleepers were all aroused: ejaculations, terrified murmurs sounded in every room; door after door unclosed; one looked out and another looked out; the gallery filled.

Gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds; and "Oh! what is it ?"--"Who is hurt ?"--"What has happened ?"--"Fetch a light!"-- "Is it fire ?"--"Are there robbers ?"--"Where shall we run ?" was demanded confusedly on all hands.
But for the moonlight they would have been in complete darkness.

They ran to and fro; they crowded together: some sobbed, some stumbled: the confusion was inextricable.
"Where the devil is Rochester ?" cried Colonel Dent.