She stood still, listening in painful silence for five minutes together—five minutes that appeared to be as many hours.
A silence so solemn, so death-like, that she could hear the very beating of her heart. This grew unbearable.
She groped her way around the cell to find the bed, and approaching the fireplace, she was suddenly startled by a sound.
A very faint noise, as of something dripping on the flagstones by her feet.
In the tomb-like silence then reigning, the faintest sound caused her to feel uncomfortable.
She listened awhile intently, asking herself what it could mean.
Drip, drip, drip.
It was strange.
When the light was there, she had not noticed it at all.
What could it be then, that was only to be heard in the dark?