How easy it had been.
The unaccustomed energy which had been awakened in him by the
spirits brought with it a pleasant restlessness. He felt that he
must go again to his little room upstairs, and take out the deeds
and read them over. The sight of them would give an increased
reality and vividness to his anticipations. Besides, too, it was
just barely possible that there might be some word, some
expression which he could change, and which should increase their
value. To sit still, poring over the catalogue in the library was
impossible. Once more he climbed to his attic, but he could not
comprehend why he felt a nervous desire to look behind him, as
though he were followed by some person whose tread was noiseless.
It was not possible, he thought, that the effects of his draught
were already passing off. Such courage as he felt in him could not
leave him suddenly. He reached his room and took the deeds from
the secret place in which he had hidden them, spreading them out
lovingly before him. As he sat down the bottle in his long coat
touched the floor behind him with a short, dull thud. It was as
though a footstep had sounded in the silent room, and he sprang to
his feet before he realised whence the noise came, looking behind
him with startled eyes.
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