Withthetailofhiseyehesawthedoor——evenglancedatitfromtimetotimedirectly，likeabesiegedcommanderpleasedtoverifythegoodestateofhisdefences。Butintruthhewasatpeace。Therainfallinginthestreetsoundednaturalandpleasant。Presently，ontheotherside，thenotesofapianowerewakenedtothemusicofahymn，andthevoicesofmanychildrentookuptheairandwords。Howstately，howcomfortablewasthemelody！Howfreshtheyouthfulvoices！
Markheimgaveeartoitsmilingly，ashesortedoutthekeys;andhismindwasthrongedwithanswerableideasandimages：church-goingchildren，andthepealingofthehighorgan;childrenafield，bathersbythebrookside，ramblersonthebramblycommon，kite-flyersinthewindyandcloud-navigatedsky;andthen，atanothercadenceofthehymn，backagaintochurch，andthesomnolenceofsummerSundays，andthehighgenteelvoiceoftheparson（whichhesmiledalittletorecall）andthepaintedJacobeantombs，andthedimletteringoftheTenCommandmentsinthechancel。
Andashesatthus，atoncebusyandabsent，hewasstartledtohisfeet。Aflashofice，aflashoffire，aburstinggushofblood，wentoverhim，andthenhestoodtransfixedandthrilling。Astepmountedthestairslowlyandsteadily，andpresentlyahandwaslaidupontheknob，andthelockclicked，andthedooropened。
FearheldMarkheiminavice。Whattoexpectheknewnot——whetherthedeadmanwalking，ortheofficialministersofhumanjustice，orsomechancewitnessblindlystumblingintoconsignhimtothegallows。Butwhenafacewasthrustintotheaperture，glancedroundtheroom，lookedathim，noddedandsmiledasifinfriendlyrecognition，andthenwithdrewagain，andthedoorclosedbehindit，hisfearbrokeloosefromhiscontrolinahoarsecry。Atthesoundofthisthevisitantreturned。
\"Didyoucallme？\"heasked，pleasantly，andwiththatheenteredtheroomandclosedthedoorbehindhim。