'not quite so bad as that,' replied ludovico, smiling, 'but several times, as the wind whistled round the castle, and shook the old casements, i did fancy i heard odd noises, and, once or twice, i got up and looked about me; but nothing was to be seen, except the grim figures in the tapestry, which seemed to frown upon me, as i looked at them.i had sat thus for above an hour,' continued ludovico, 'when again i thought i heard a noise, and glanced my eyes round the room, to discover what it came from, but, not perceiving any thing, ibegan to read again, and, when i had finished the story i was upon, ifelt drowsy, and dropped asleep.but presently i was awakened by the noise i had heard before, and it seemed to come from that part of the chamber, where the bed stood; and then, whether it was the story ihad been reading that affected my spirits, or the strange reports, that had been spread of these apartments, i don't know, but, when ilooked towards the bed again, i fancied i saw a man's face within the dusky curtains.'
at the mention of this, emily trembled, and looked anxiously, remembering the spectacle she had herself witnessed there with dorothee.
'i confess, madam, my heart did fail me, at that instant,' continued ludovico, 'but a return of the noise drew my attention from the bed, and i then distinctly heard a sound, like that of a key, turning in a lock, but what surprised me more was, that i saw no door where the sound seemed to come from.in the next moment, however, the arras near the bed was slowly lifted, and a person appeared behind it, entering from a small door in the wall.he stood for a moment as if half retreating, with his head bending under the arras which concealed the upper part of his face except his eyes scowling beneath the tapestry as he held it; and then, while he raised it higher, isaw the face of another man behind, looking over his shoulder.iknow not how it was, but, though my sword was upon the table before me, i had not the power just then to seize it, but sat quite still, watching them, with my eyes half shut as if i was asleep.i suppose they thought me so, and were debating what they should do, for iheard them whisper, and they stood in the same posture for the value of a minute, and then, i thought i perceived other faces in the duskiness beyond the door, and heard louder whispers.'