He paused
a few moments, and was not now so insensible to its lonely and dismal
aspect. It was a two-storied house, and nothing could surpass the
spectral appearance of the moon's light as it fell with its pale and
death-like lustre upon the windows. He stood contemplating it for
some time, when, all at once, he perceived, walking about ten yards in
advance of him, the shape of a man dressed in black from top to toe. It
was not within the scope of human fortitude to avoid being startled by
such a sudden and incomprehensible apparition. Woodward was startled;
but he soon recovered himself, and after the first shock felt rather
satisfied that he had some visible object with which he could make the
experiment he projected, viz., to ascertain the nature, whether mortal
or otherwise, of the being before him. With this purpose in view, he
walked very quickly after him, and as the other did not seem to quicken
his pace into a corresponding speed, he took it for granted that
he would soon overtake him. In this, however, he was, much to his
astonishment, mistaken. His own walk was quick and rapid, whilst that of
this incomprehensible figure was slow and solemn, and yet he could not
lessen the distance between them a single inch.
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