Night, absolute night.

Shadows thick as velvet hung all around.
Everything sank into darkness.

I sat down and leaned my elbow on the round table, lighted by the lamp.

I meant to work, but as a matter of fact I only listened.
I had looked into the Room a short time before.

No one had been there, but no doubt some one was going to come.
Some one was going to come, that evening perhaps, or the next day, or the day after.