my own efforts to win the of fame so that on the whole i was glad she did not spend that day with us in the woods � of course if i had paid any attention to the trifles which make up the sum of life i should have remembered that had told her he would meet her no more on earth � but i judged this to be a mere trifle of hasty and speech without any meaning so my last twenty four hours of happiness passed away in serenity � i felt a sense of deepening pleasure in existence and i began to believe that the future had brighter the sorrows of satan things in store for me than i had lately ventured to expect s new phase of gentleness and tenderness towards me combined with her rare beauty seemed to that the between us would be of short duration and that her nature too early rendered harsh and cynical by a society education would soften in time to that beautiful which is after all woman s best charm thus i thought in and contented reverie under the foliage with my fair wife beside me and listening to the rich tones of my friend s magnificent voice forth wild as the sunset deepened in the sky and the twilight shadows fell then came the night � the night which dropped only for a few hours over the quiet landscape but for ever over me we had dined late and pleasantly fatigued with our day in the open air had retired early i had grown a heavy and i suppose i must have some hours when i was awakened suddenly as though by an imperative touch from some unseen hand i started up in my bed � the night lamp was burning dimly and by its glimmer i saw that was no longer at my side my heart gave one bound against my ribs and then almost stood still � sense of thing unexpected and chilled my blood i pushed aside the embroidered silken of the bed and peered into the room � it was empty then i rose hastily put on my clothes and went to the door � it was carefully shut but not locked as it had been when we retired for the night i opened it without the least noise and looked out into the long passage � no one there immediately opposite the bedroom door there was a winding oak staircase leading down to a broad corridor which in former times had been used as a music room or picture � an ancient organ still sweet of tone occupied one end of it with dull golden pipes towering up to the carved and ceiling � the other end was lit by a large window like that of a church filled with rare old stained glass representing in various the lives the sorrows of satan of the saints the centre subject being the of st advancing with soft caution to the overlooking this gallery i gazed down into it and for a moment could see nothing on the polished floor but the cross patterns made by the moonlight falling through the great window � but presently as i watched wondering where could have gone to at this time of night i saw a dark tall shadow across the of lines and i heard the smothered sound of voices with my beating furiously and a sensation of in my throat � full of strange thoughts and suspicions which i dared not define i crept slowly and stealthily down the stair till as my foot touched the last step i saw � what nearly struck me to the ground with a shock of agony � and i had to draw back and bite my lips hard to repress the cry that nearly escaped them there � there before me in the full moonlight with the colours of the red and blue robes of the painted saints on the window glowing blood like and about her knelt my wife � arrayed in a garment of white which betrayed rather than concealed the outline of her form � her wealth of hair falling about her in wild disorder � her hands clasped in � her pale face and above her the dark imposing figure of i stared at the twain with dry burning eyes � what did this was she � my wife � false was he � my friend � a traitor patience � patience i muttered to myself this is a piece of acting doubtless � such as chanced the other night with � patience � let us hear this � this comedy and drawing myself close up against the wall i leaned there scarcely drawing breath waiting for voice � for his � when they spoke i should know � yes i should know all and i fastened my looks on them as they stood there � vaguely wondering even in my tense anguish at the fearful light on s face � a light which could scarcely be the reflection of the moon as he backed the window � and at the scorn of his frowning brows what terrific humour swayed him � the sorrows of satan why did he even to my thought appear more than human � why did his very beauty seem hideous at that moment and his aspect hush � hush she spoke � my wife � i heard her every word � heard all and endured au without falling dead at her feet in the extremity of my and despair i love you she i love you and my love is killing me be merciful � have pity on my passion love me for one hour one little hour � it is not much to ask and afterwards � do with me what you will � torture me brand me an outcast in the public sight curse me before heaven � 