three hours after midnight
Fortifying myself with the sword-cane , I walked boldly into the library , and , touching the electric button , soon had every gas-jet in the room giving forth a brilliant flame ; but these , brilliant as they were , disclosed nothing in the chair before the machine . The latter , apparently oblivious of my presence , went clicking merrily and as rapidly along as though some expert young woman were in charge . Imagine the situation if you can . A type-writing machine of ancient make , its letters clear , but out of accord with the keys , confronted by an empty chair , three hours after midnight , rattling off page after page of something which might or might not be readable , I could not at the moment determine . For two or three minutes I gazed in open-mouthed wonder . I was not frightened , but I did experience a sensation which comes from contact with the uncanny . As I gradually grasped the situation and became used , somewhat , to what was going on , I ventured a remark .