I felt that I was alone and that my room seemed to me to be more empty than ever before. I was surrounded by a sensation of infinite and overwhelming solitude. I sat down, but then a kind of nervous impatience agitated my legs so that I got up and began to walk about again. I was feverish, for my hands, which I had clasped behind me, almost seemed to tremble. Then suddenly a cold shiver ran down my back, and I thought the damp air might have penetrated into my room, so I lit the fire for the first time that year. But soon I felt that I could not possibly remain quiet. So I got up again and decided to go out to seek a friend to bear me company. I could not find anyone and returned home.

When I go out I always double-lock the door of my room. Now I found it merely closed, which surprised me.

I went in and found my fire still burning, so that it lighted up the room a little. In the act of taking up a candle, I noticed somebody sitting in my armchair by the fire, warming his feet, with his neck toward me. I thought very naturally that some friend or the other had come to see me. No doubt the porter, whom I had told when I went out, had lent him his own key. In a moment, I remembered all the circumstances of my return, how the street door had been opened immediately and that my own door was only latched and not locked.

I could see nothing of my friend but his head. He had evidently gone to sleep while waiting for me, so I went up to him to rouse him. I saw him quite clearly; his right arm I could see nothing of my friend but his head. He had evidently gone to sleep while was hanging down and his legs were crossed, while his head, which was somewhat inclined to the left of the armchair, seemed to indicate that he was asleep. "Who can it be?" I asked myself. I could not see clearly, as the room was rather dark, so I put out my hand to touch him on the shoulder, and it came in contact with the back of the chair. There was nobody there; the seat was empty.

I at once jumped up with fright. For a moment, I drew back as if some terrible danger had suddenly appeared in my way; then I turned round again, and looked at the armchair. I remained standing upright panting with fear, so upset that I could not collect my thoughts, and was ready to drop.

I lay quietly on my back. Then an irresistible desire seized me to look round the room, and I turned onto my side. My fire was nearly out, and the few glowing embers threw a faint light on to the floor by the chair, where I fancied, I saw the man sitting again.

I quickly struck a match, but I had been mistaken, for there was nothing there. Since that time, I have been afraid of being alone at night.