right to see any person, at any time, in her house, she could hardly be
supposed to choose such appalling sounds as the forerunners of happy
moments.

And really there was something uncommonly terrifying in the sound; its
slowly lengthened vibrations were still fresh in our ears. Antonelli was
pale, confused, and every moment in danger of falling into a swoon. We
were obliged to remain with her half the night. Nothing more was heard. On
the following evening the same company was assembled; and although the
cheerfulness of the preceding day was wanting, we were not dejected.
Precisely at the same hour we heard the same hollow groan as the night
before.

We had in the meantime formed many conjectures on the origin of this
strange sound, which were as contradictory as they were extravagant. It is
unnecessary to relate every particular: in short, whenever Antonelli
supped at home, the alarming noise was heard at the same hour, sometimes
stronger, at others weaker. This occurrence was spoken of all over Naples.
Every inmate of the house, every friend and acquaintance, took the most
lively interest; even the police was summoned to attend. Spies were placed
at proper distances around the house. To such as stood in the street the
sound seemed to arise in the open air, while those in the room heard it
close by them. As often as she supped out all was silent, but whenever she
remained at home, she was sure to be visited by her uncivil guest; but
leaving her house was not always a means of escaping him. Her talent and
character gained her admittance into the first houses; the elegance of her
manners and her lively conversation, made her everywhere welcome; and, in
order to avoid her unpleasant visiter, she used to pass her evenings in
company out of the house.