Two American architects, Tom and the narrator, travel from Naples to Paestum to explore ancient ruins. They plan to return by a specific train but are captivated by the beauty of the temples and decide to stay longer, missing their train. They end up at a dilapidated villa, where they are forced to spend the night after the last train leaves. The villa, once a noble residence, is now a mysterious and eerie place, surrounded by tales of its dark past. As night falls, they encounter an old man who leads them into the villa. The interior is a haunting mix of decay and former grandeur. After settling into their room, the narrator experiences a series of terrifying supernatural events, including the door mysteriously opening and strange noises that suggest a presence in the room. He is gripped by fear as he hears footsteps and the sound of a woman’s dress, culminating in a chaotic and horrifying encounter that leaves him unconscious. When dawn breaks, the narrator awakens to find himself alone, with no clear memory of the night’s events. He discovers blood on the floor, but no injuries on his body. He recounts the night’s horrors to Tom, who is skeptical but agrees to leave the villa. They learn from the station-master about the villa's tragic history involving a Duke and his beautiful wife, La Luna, who was killed out of jealousy. The Duke, after committing the murder, never returned to the villa, and it is said that La Luna's spirit haunts the place, unable to find peace. The story concludes with the two men leaving the villa, forever marked by their unsettling experience, and the lingering mystery of La Luna's fate.
By Ralph Adams Cram · First published 1920 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Adventure, Mystery