It was that which in the darkness had swayed against her throat. A broad ribbon of wet seaweed was hanging down from the ceiling. She saw what it was the men with the candles were looking at. Then a sudden exclamation, a quick “My God, look at that!” her senses returned.
She was only half aware of some one bending over her, of some one forcing her head down between her knees. “What the devil?” “ What’s happened?” “Good God, what is it?” She shuddered, took a step forward, collapsed on the floor. Then, restoring her sanity, lights flickered in the doorway - candles - men hurrying into the room. She was conscious only of supreme terror. She did not hear the sounds from below, of a chair being overturned, of a door opening, of men’s feet running up the stairs. She screamed and screamed - screams of the utmost terror - wild desperate cries for help. She stood there, listening - a cold, clammy hand touched her throat - a wet hand, smelling of the sea… Vera screamed. Yes, I’ll watch the girl…” “Twenty to four… only twenty to four… perhaps the clock has stopped… I don’t understand - no, I don’t understand… This sort of thing can’t happen… it is happening… Why don’t we wake up? Wake up - Judgement Day - not that! If I could only think… My head - something’s happening in my head - it’s going to burst - it’s going to split… This sort of thing can’t happen… What’s the time? Oh, God! it’s We were all searched… Nobody can have it… But some one knows where it is…” “ They’re going mad… they’re all go mad… Afraid of death… we’re all afraid of death… I’m afraid of death… Yes, but that doesn’t stop death coming… ‘The hearse is at the door, sir.’ Where did I read that? The girl… I’ll watch the girl.
Just then… his eyes are mad… quite mad… Perhaps he isn’t a doctor at all… That’s it, of course! He’s a lunatic, escaped from some doctor’s house - pretending to be a doctor… It’s true… shall I tell them? Shall I scream out? No, it won’t do to put him on his guard… Besides he can seem so sane… What time is it? Only a quarter past three! Oh, God, I shall go mad myself… Yes, it’s Armstrong… He’s watching me now…” “They won’t get me! I can take care of myself… I’ve been in tight places before… Where the hell is that revolver? Who took it? Who’s got it? Nobody’s got it - we know that.
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