unconscious, and while two of the guards endeavoured to revive him,
the other ran for the doctor. Upon the doctor's arrival they
carried him to his sleeping apartments, and after some time
succeeded in reviving him. The Emperor then, in trembling accents,
told his astounded listeners what had occurred.

Exactly at midnight, according to his custom, he had rung the bell
which was the signal that he was ready for his repast. Curiously
enough, neither of the guards, although they had been listening for
it, had heard that bell.

He had rung quite mechanically, and also mechanically, had turned
again to his writing desk directly he had done so. A few minutes
later he had heard the door open and footsteps approach him across
the soft carpet. Without raising his head from his work he had
commenced to say:

"Bring me--"

Then he had raised his head, expecting to see the butler awaiting
his orders. Instead his eyes fell upon a shadowy female figure
dressed in white, with a long, flowing black veil trailing behind
her on the ground. He rose from his chair, terrified, and cried:

"Who are you, and what do you want?"

At the same moment, instinctively, he placed his hand upon a
service revolver which lay upon the desk. The white figure,
however, did not move, and he advanced towards her. She gazed at
him, retreating slowly backwards towards the end of the room, and