就在第二天，人们发现霍弗死在了自己的房间里。死的时候，小提琴还搭在他的脖子上，琴弓搭在弦上，他的面前摆着肖邦《葬礼进行曲》的谱子……
"Iamnotsosuperstitiousassomeofyourphysiofsce，asyouarepleasedtobecalled，"saidHawver，replyingtoanathathadnotbee;Someofyou-onlyafew，Ifess-believeialityofthesoul，andinapparitionswhichyouhaveytocallghosts。Igohanathattheliviimesseeheyarenot，buthavebeeheyhavelivedsolong，perhapssoiohavelefttheirimpressaboutthem。Ikone'semaybesoaffee'spersonalityastoyield，longafterward，animageofone'sselftotheeyesofalesstheimpressiyhasthtkiyasthepergeyeshavethtkindofeyes-mine，forexample。"
"Yes，therightkindofeyes，gsensationstkindofbrains，"saidDrFrayley，smiling。
"Thankyou，oohaveaioisaboutthereplythatIsupposedyouwouldhavethecivilitytomake。"
"Pardoyousaythatyouknow。Thatisagooddealtosay，don'tyouthink？Perhapsyouwillnotmiroubleofsayinghowyoulear;
"Youwillhallu，"Hawversaid，"butthatdoes;Ahestory。
"LastsummerIwent，asyouknow，topassthehotweathertermiowherelativeatwhosehouseIhadiaywasill，soIsoughtotherquarters。AftersomedifficultyIsurentingavatdwellingthathadbeenoccupiedbyaricdoctorwiththename，whohadgoneawayyearsbefore，noonekeve。Hehadbuiltthehousehimselfandhadlivedinitwithaforabouttenyears。Hispraeververyexteerafewyearsbeeirely。Notonlyso，buthehadwithdrawaltogetherfromsociallifeandbeearecluse。Iwastoldbythevillagedoctor，abouttheohwhomheheldaions，thatdurihehaddevotedhimselftoasiudy，theresultofwhichhehadexpoundedinabookthatdidselftotheapprovalofhisprofessiohren，who，indeed，sideredhimirelysaseenthebookandowrecallthetitleofit，butIamtoldthatitexpouherstartlingtheory。Heheldthatitossibleintheanyapersonioforecasthisdeathwithpre，severalmonthsiheeve，Ithieenmonths。Therewerelocaltalesofhishaviedhispnosis，orperhapsyouwouldsaydiagnosis；anditwassaidthatiahepersonwhosefriendshehadwarnedhaddiedsuddeedtime，andfromnoassignablecause。Allthis，however，hasnothingtodowithwhatIhavetotell；Ithoughtitmightamuseaphysi。
"Thehousewasfurashehadlivedinit。Itwasarathergloomydwellingforonewhowasherareorastudent，andIthihingofitscharae-perhapssomeofitsformerot'scharacter；foralwaysIfeltiainmelancholythatwasnotinmynaturaldisposition，nor，Ithioloneliness。Ihadhatsleptinthehouse，butIhavealwaysbeen，asyouknow，ratherfondofmyowy，beingmuchaddictedt，thoughlittletostudy。Whateverwasthecause，theeffectwasdejedasenseofimpehiseannering'sstudy，althoughthatroomwasthelightestandmostairyihedoctor'slife-sizeportraitinoilhunginthatroom，aelytodomiherewasnothingunusualiure；themalyrathergoodlooking，aboutfiftyyearsold，withiron-greyhair，asmooth-shavenfaddark，seriouseyes。Somethiurealwaysdrewaention。Theman'sappearancebecamefamiliartome，a;hau;me。
"OneeveningIassingthroughthisroomtomybedroom，-thereisnogasinMeridian。Istoppedasusualbeforetheportrait，whichseemedinthelamplighttohaveanewexpression，noteasilydistinedbutdidnotdisturbme。Imovedthelampfromoheotheraheeffectsofthealteredlight。Whilesoeaurnround。AsIdidsoIsawamanmovingacrosstheroomdiree！AssoonasheearenoughforthelamplighttoillumihefaceIsawthatitwasDrManneriwasasiftheportrait>
"'Ibegyourpardon，'Isaid，somewhatcoldly，'butifyouknockedIdidnothear。'
"Hepassedme，withinanarm'slength，liftedhisrightfer，asinwarning，andwithoutawordwentonoutoftheroom，thoughIobservedhisexithanIhadobservedhisentrance。
"Ofcourse，IellyouthatthisillcallahalluandIapparition。Thatroomhadonlytwodoors，ofwhiewaslocked；theotherledintoabedroom，fromwhichtherewas。Myfeelihisisnotanimportantpartofthei。
"Doubtlessthisseemstoyouaveryonplace'ghoststory'-orutheregularlineslaiddowersoftheart。IfthatweresoIshouldedit，evehemanwashimtodayinU。Hepassedmeinacrowd。"
Hawverhadfioryandbothme。DrFrayleyabsentlydrummedoablewithhisfingers。
"Didhesayanythingtoday？"heasked，"anythingfromwhiferredthathewas;
&aredanddidnotreply。
"Perhaps，"uedFrayley，"hemadeasigure-liftedafinger，asinwarning。It'satrickhehad-ahabitwhensayihingserious-annouofadiagnosis，forexample。"
"Yes，hedid-justashisapparitio，goodGod！didyoueverknowhim？"
Haarentlygrowingnervous。
"Iknewhim。Ihavereadhisbook，aswilleveryphysieday。Itisorikingandimportaury'stributionstomedice。Yes，Iknewhim；Iattendedhimihreeyearsago。Hedied。"
Hawversprangfromhisifestlydisturbed。Hestrodeforwardandbackacrosstheroom；thenapproachedhisfriend，andiogethersteady，said："Doctor，haveyouanythingtosaytome-asaphysi？"
"No，Hawver，youarethehealthiestmanIeverknew。AsafriendIadviseyoutogotoyourroom。Youplaytheviolinlikea，playsomethinglightahiscursedbadbusinessoffyourmind。"
&dayHawverwasfounddeadinhisroom，theviolinathishebowup，hismusibeforehimat'sFuneralMarch。