Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVII THE EVE OF THE PRODUCTION As the priest put his question for the second time, the sleeper moved. It was as though he passed from the nightmare of a slumber to the more dreadful nightmare of awaking. With a sudden, troubled movement, he gathered himself into a sitting position at the extreme edge of the horsehair sofa. Although his eyes were open at their widest, the things which were went unseen; he was in the presence of the spectres of his imagination, apparently continuing to wrestle with the dream with which he had been struggling in his sleep. There was sweat upon his cheeks, the muscles of his face seemed to be in involuntary motion; his whole body was in a tremor as of agony; he continually gesticulated with his hands and with his arms, screaming rather than speaking. From his first words they thought he was speaking to them; a moment's attention, however, showed them they were wrong. 'You think yourselves clever, don't you? But I'm your match! Deep as the devil? But then I'm deeper! That's the hundredth time you've thought you'd got me by the throat--isn't it? But you haven't got me yet! And you never will, --no, never! I'm ready for you all the time! I won't touch you, and you shan't touch me, and when you think you'll fasten your dirty selves upon my throat, you're wrong! Oh, yes, I see you on the floor, on the wall, on the ceiling, in the cursed air, millions of you. Buzzing, buzzing, buzzing, --sloppy, slimy, sprawling great winged beasts, with your yellow eyes. You think you'll frighten me because you keep on changing colour, but I'm not afraid. You've come so far, and you'll come no farther. Look here, I've got something which will drown you all. Ah! I thought you'd begin when you got a sight of it. Don't touch.
