THE SWAG I shrank back against the mouldy wall of that old stairway shivering as if I had been suddenly stricken with the ague.

I had trembled in every limb before ever I heard the sound of the sudden scuffle, and from a variety of reasons--the relief of having Hollins's revolver withdrawn from my nose; the knowledge that Maisie was close by; the gradual wearing-down of my nerves during a whole day of heart-sickening suspense,--but now the trembling had deepened into utter shaking: I heard my own teeth chattering, and my heart going like a pump, as I stood there, staring at the man's face, over which a grey pallor was quickly spreading itself.

And though I knew that he was as dead as ever a man can be, I called to him, and the sound of my own voice frightened me.
"Mr.Hollins!" I cried.

"Mr.Hollins!" And then I was frightened still more, for, as if in answer to my summons, but, of course, because of some muscular contraction following on death, the dead lips slightly parted, and they looked as if they were grinning at me.

At that I lost what nerve I had left, and let out a cry, and turned to run back into the room where we had talked.