Iwasanceadairkwomanmyself，beforemyhairwasgray。Haudyerpeace，Francie，andwatchthecairds。“
IwatchedthecardsasIwastold。Thereweresevenleftonthetable。Myauntremovedtwofromoneendoftherowandtwofromtheother，anddesiredmetocallthetwooutermostofthethreecardsnowleftonthetable。IcalledtheAceofClubsandtheTenofDiamonds。MyauntChanceliftedhereyestotheceilingwithalookofdevoutgratitudewhichsorelytriedmymother’spatience。
TheAceofClubsandtheTenofDiamonds，takentogether，signified——first，goodnewsevidentlythenewsofthegroom’splace；secondly，ajourneythatlaybeforemepointingplainlytomyjourneyto-morrow！；thirdlyandlastly，asumofmoneyprobablythegroom’swages！waitingtofinditswayintomypockets。Havingtoldmyfortuneintheseencouragingterms，myauntdeclinedtocarrytheexperimentanyfurther。“Eh，lad！it’sacleantemptingo’Proavidencetoaskmairo’thecairdsthanthecairdshavetauldusnoo。Gaeyerwaysto-morrowtothegreathoose。Adairkwomanwillmeetyeatthegate；andshe’llhaveahandingettingyethegroom’splace，wi’a’thegratificationsandpairquisitesappertainingtothesame。And，mebbe，whenyerpoaket’sfullo’money，ye’llno’beforgettingyerauntChance，maintainingherainunblemishedwidowhood——wi’Proavidenceassisting——onthrattypundsayear！“
IpromisedtoremembermyauntChancewhohadthedefect，bytheway，ofbeingaterriblygreedypersonaftermoneyonthenexthappyoccasionwhenmypooremptypocketsweretobefilledatlast。Thisdone，Ilookedatmymother。Shehadagreedtotakehersisterforumpirebetweenus，andhersisterhadgivenitinmyfavor。Sheraisednomoreobjections。Silently，shegotonherfeet，andkissedme，andsighedbitterly——andsolefttheroom。MyauntChanceshookherhead。“Idoubt，Francie，yerpuirmitherhasbutaheathennotionofthevairtueofthecairds！“
BydaylightthenextmorningIsetforthonmyjourney。IlookedbackatthecottageasIopenedthegardengate。Atonewindowwasmymother，withherhandkerchieftohereyes。AttheotherstoodmyauntChance，holdinguptheQueenofSpadesbywayofencouragingmeatstarting。Iwavedmyhandstobothofthemintokenoffarewell，andsteppedoutbrisklyintotheroad。ItwasthenthelastdayofFebruary。Bepleasedtoremember，inconnectionwiththis，thatthefirstofMarchwastheday，andtwoo’clockinthemorningthehourofmybirth。
V
NowyouknowhowIcametoleavehome。Thenextthingtotellis，whathappenedonthejourney。
Ireachedthegreathouseinreasonablygoodtimeconsideringthedistance。Attheveryfirsttrialofit，theprophecyofthecardsturnedouttobewrong。Thepersonwhometmeatthelodgegatewasnotadarkwoman——infact，notawomanatall——butaboy。Hedirectedmeonthewaytotheservants’offices；andthereagainthecardswereallwrong。Iencountered，notonewoman，butthree——
andnotoneofthethreewasdark。IhavestatedthatIamnotsuperstitious，andIhavetoldthetruth。ButImustownthatI
didfeelacertainflutteringattheheartwhenImademybowtothesteward，andtoldhimwhatbusinesshadbroughtmetothehouse。HisanswercompletedthediscomfitureofauntChance’sfortune-telling。Myill-luckstillpursuedme。Thatverymorninganothermanhadappliedforthegroom’splace，andhadgotit。
IswallowedmydisappointmentaswellasIcould，andthankedthesteward，andwenttotheinninthevillagetogettherestandfoodwhichIsorelyneededbythistime。
BeforestartingonmyhomewardwalkImadesomeinquiriesattheinn，andascertainedthatImightsaveafewmiles，onmyreturn，byfollowinganewroad。Furnishedwithfullinstructions，severaltimesrepeated，astothevariousturningsIwastotake，Isetforth，andwalkedontilltheeveningwithonlyonestoppageforbreadandcheese。Justasitwasgettingtowarddark，theraincameonandthewindbegantorise；andIfoundmyself，tomakemattersworse，inapartofthecountrywithwhichIwasentirelyunacquainted，thoughIguessedmyselftobesomefifteenmilesfromhome。ThefirsthouseIfoundtoinquireat，wasalonelyroadsideinn，standingontheoutskirtsofathickwood。Solitaryastheplacelooked，itwaswelcometoalostmanwhowasalsohungry，thirsty，footsore，andwet。Thelandlordwascivilandrespectable-looking；andthepriceheaskedforabedwasreasonableenough。Iwasgrievedtodisappointmymother。Buttherewasnoconveyancetobehad，andIcouldgonofartherafootthatnight。Mywearinessfairlyforcedmetostopattheinn。
ImaysayformyselfthatIamatemperateman。Mysuppersimplyconsistedofsomerashersofbacon，asliceofhome-madebread，andapintofale。Ididnotgotobedimmediatelyafterthismoderatemeal，butsatupwiththelandlord，talkingaboutmybadprospectsandmylongrunofill-luck，anddivergingfromthesetopicstothesubjectsofhorse-fleshandracing。Nothingwassaid，eitherbymyself，myhost，orthefewlaborerswhostrayedintothetap-room，whichcould，intheslightestdegree，excitemymind，orsetmyfancy——whichisonlyasmallfancyatthebestoftimes——playingtrickswithmycommonsense。
Atalittleaftereleventhehousewasclosed。Iwentroundwiththelandlord，andheldthecandlewhilethedoorsandlowerwindowswerebeingsecured。Inoticedwithsurprisethestrengthofthebolts，bars，andiron-sheathedshutters。
“Yousee，weareratherlonelyhere，“saidthelandlord。“Weneverhavehadanyattemptstobreakinyet，butit’salwaysaswelltobeonthesafeside。Whennobodyissleepinghere，Iamtheonlymaninthehouse。Mywifeanddaughteraretimid，andtheservantgirltakesafterhermissuses。Anotherglassofale，beforeyouturnin？——No！——Well，howsuchasobermanasyoucomestobeoutofaplaceismorethanIcanunderstandforone——Here’swhereyou’retosleep。You’retheonlylodgerto-night，andIthinkyou’llsaymymissushasdoneherbesttomakeyoucomfortable。You’requitesureyouwon’thaveanotherglassofale？——Verywell。Goodnight。“
Itwashalf-pastelevenbytheclockinthepassageaswewentupstairstothebedroom。Thewindowlookedoutonthewoodatthebackofthehouse。
Ilockedmydoor，setmycandleonthechestofdrawers，andwearilygotmereadyforbed。Thebleakwindwasstillblowing，andthesolemn，surgingmoanofitinthewoodwasverydrearytohearthroughthenightsilence。Feelingstrangelywakeful，I
resolvedtokeepthecandlealightuntilIbegantogrowsleepy。
Thetruthis，Iwasnotquitemyself。Iwasdepressedinmindbymydisappointmentofthemorning；andIwaswornoutinbodybymylongwalk。Betweenthetwo，IownIcouldn’tfacetheprospectoflyingawakeinthedarkness，listeningtothedismalmoanofthewindinthewood。
SleepstoleonmebeforeIwasawareofit；myeyesclosed，andI
fellofftorest，withouthavingsomuchasthoughtofextinguishingthecandle。
ThenextthingthatIrememberwasafaintshiveringthatranthroughmefromheadtofoot，andadreadfulsinkingpainatmyheart，suchasIhadneverfeltbefore。Theshiveringonlydisturbedmyslumbers——thepainwokemeinstantly。InonemomentI
passedfromastateofsleeptoastateofwakefulness——myeyeswideopen——mymindclearonasuddenasifbyamiracle。Thecandlehadburneddownnearlytothelastmorseloftallow，buttheunsnuffedwickhadjustfallenoff，andthelightwas，forthemoment，fairandfull。
Betweenthefootofthebedandtheclosetdoor，Isawapersoninmyroom。Thepersonwasawoman，standinglookingatme，withaknifeinherhand。Itdoesnocredittomycouragetoconfessit——
butthetruthISthetruth。Iwasstruckspeechlesswithterror。
ThereIlaywithmyeyesonthewoman；therethewomanstoodwiththeknifeinherhandwithHEReyesonME。
Shesaidnotawordaswestaredeachotherintheface；butshemovedafteralittle——movedslowlytowardtheleft-handsideofthebed。
Thelightfellfullonherface。Afair，finewoman，withyellowishflaxenhair，andlightgrayeyes，withadroopinthelefteyelid。Inoticedthesethingsandfixedtheminmymind，beforeshewasquiteroundatthesideofthebed。Withoutsayingaword；withoutanychangeinthestonystillnessofherface；
withoutanynoisefollowingherfootfall，shecamecloserandcloser；stoppedatthebed-head；andliftedtheknifetostabme。
Ilaidmyarmovermythroattosaveit；but，asIsawtheblowcoming，Ithrewmyhandacrossthebedtotherightside，andjerkedmybodyoverthatway，justastheknifecamedown，likelightning，withinahair’sbreadthofmyshoulder。
Myeyesfixedonherarmandherhand——shegavemetimetolookatthemassheslowlydrewtheknifeoutofthebed。Awhite，well-
shapedarm，withaprettydownlyinglightlyoverthefairskin。A
delicatelady’shand，withapinkflushroundthefingernails。
Shedrewtheknifeout，andpassedbackagainslowlytothefootofthebed；shestoppedthereforamomentlookingatme；thenshecameonwithoutsayingaword；withoutanychangeinthestonystillnessofherface；withoutanynoisefollowingherfootfall——
cameontothesideofthebedwhereInowlay。
Gettingnearme，sheliftedtheknifeagain，andIdrewmyselfawaytotheleftside。Shestruck，asbeforerightintothemattress，withaswiftdownwardactionofherarm；andshemissedme，asbefore；byahair’sbreadth。ThistimemyeyeswanderedfromHER
totheknife。Itwaslikethelargeclaspkniveswhichlaboringmenusetocuttheirbreadandbaconwith。Herdelicatelittlefingersdidnothidemorethantwothirdsofthehandle；Inoticedthatitwasmadeofbuckhorn，cleanandshiningasthebladewas，andlookinglikenew。
Forthesecondtimeshedrewtheknifeoutofthebed，andsuddenlyhiditawayinthewidesleeveofhergown。Thatdone，shestoppedbythebedsidewatchingme。ForaninstantIsawherstandinginthatposition——thenthewickofthespentcandlefelloverintothesocket。Theflamedwindledtoalittlebluepoint，andtheroomgrewdark。
Amoment，orless，ifpossible，passedso——andthenthewickflaredup，smokily，forthelasttime。Myeyeswerestilllookingforherovertheright-handsideofthebedwhenthelastflashoflightcame。LookasImight，Icouldseenothing。Thewomanwiththeknifewasgone。
Ibegantogetbacktomyselfagain。Icouldfeelmyheartbeating；Icouldhearthewoefulmoaningofthewindinthewood；I
couldleapupinbed，andgivethealarmbeforesheescapedfromthehouse。“Murder！Wakeupthere！Murder！“
Nobodyansweredtothealarm。Iroseandgropedmywaythroughthedarknesstothedooroftheroom。Bythatwayshemusthavegotin。Bythatwayshemusthavegoneout。
Thedooroftheroomwasfastlocked，exactlyasIhadleftitongoingtobed！Ilookedatthewindow。Fastlockedtoo！
Hearingavoiceoutside，Iopenedthedoor。Therewasthelandlord，comingtowardmealongthepassage，withhisburningcandleinonehand，andhisgunintheother。
“Whatisit？“hesays，lookingatmeinnoveryfriendlyway。
Icouldonlyanswerinawhisper，“Awoman，withaknifeinherhand。Inmyroom。Afair，yellow-hairedwoman。Shejabbedatmewiththeknife，twiceover。“
Heliftedhiscandle，andlookedatmesteadilyfromheadtofoot。
“Sheseemstohavemissedyou——twiceover。“
“Idodgedtheknifeasitcamedown。Itstruckthebedeachtime。
Goin，andsee。“
Thelandlordtookhiscandleintothebedroomimmediately。Inlessthanaminutehecameoutagainintothepassageinaviolentpassion。
“Thedevilflyawaywithyouandyourwomanwiththeknife！Thereisn’tamarkinthebedclothesanywhere。Whatdoyoumeanbycomingintoaman’splaceandfrighteninghisfamilyoutoftheirwitsbyadream？“
Adream？Thewomanwhohadtriedtostabme，notalivinghumanbeinglikemyself？Ibegantoshakeandshiver。Thehorrorsgotholdofmeatthebarethoughtofit。
“I’llleavethehouse，“Isaid。“Betterbeoutontheroadintherainanddark，thanbackinthatroom，afterwhatI’veseeninit。
Lendmethelighttogetmyclothesby，andtellmewhatI’mtopay。“
Thelandlordledthewaybackwithhislightintothebedroom。
“Pay？“sayshe。“You’llfindyourscoreontheslatewhenyougodownstairs。Iwouldn’thavetakenyouinforallthemoneyyou’vegotaboutyou，ifIhadknownyourdreaming，screechingwaysbeforehand。Lookatthebed——where’sthecutofaknifeinit？
Lookatthewindow——isthelockbursted？LookatthedoorwhichI
heardyoufastenyourself——isitbrokein？Amurderingwomanwithaknifeinmyhouse！Yououghttobeashamedofyourself！“
Myeyesfollowedhishandasitpointedfirsttothebed——thentothewindow——thentothedoor。Therewasnogainsayingit。Thebedsheetwasassoundasonthedayitwasmade。Thewindowwasfast。
Thedoorhungonitshingesassteadyasever。Ihuddledmyclothesonwithoutspeaking。Wewentdownstairstogether。I
lookedattheclockinthebar-room。Thetimewastwentyminutespasttwointhemorning。Ipaidmybill，andthelandlordletmeout。Therainhadceased；butthenightwasdark，andthewindwasbleakerthanever。Littledidthedarkness，orthecold，orthedoubtaboutthewayhomemattertoME。Mymindwasawayfromallthesethings。Mymindwasfixedonthevisioninthebedroom。
WhathadIseentryingtomurderme？Thecreatureofadream？Orthatothercreaturefromtheworldbeyondthegrave，whommencallghost？IcouldmakenothingofitasIwalkedalonginthenight；
Ihadmadenothingbyitbymidday——whenIstoodatlast，aftermanytimesmissingmyroad，onthedoorstepofhome。