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two men on the opposite side of the way； going from West to East。
They were one behind the other。 The foremost man often looked back
over his shoulder。 The second man followed him； at a distance of
some thirty paces； with his right hand menacingly raised。 First；
the singularity and steadiness of this threatening gesture in so
public a thoroughfare attracted my attention； and next； the more
remarkable circumstance that nobody heeded it。 Both men threaded
their way among the other passengers with a smoothness hardly
consistent even with the action of walking on a pavement； and no
single creature； that I could see； gave them place； touched them； or
looked after them。 In passing before my windows； they both stared
up at me。 I saw their two faces very distinctly； and I knew that I
could recognise them anywhere。 Not that I had consciously noticed
anything very remarkable in either face； except that the man who
went first had an unusually lowering appearance； and that the face
of the man who followed him was of the colour of impure wax。
I am a bachelor； and my valet and his wife constitute my whole
establishment。 My occupation is in a certain Branch Bank； and I
wish that my duties as head of a Department were as light as they
are popularly supposed to be。 They kept me in town that autumn；
when I stood in need of change。 I was not ill； but I was not well。
My reader is to make the most that can be reasonably made of my
feeling jaded； having a depressing sense upon me of a monotonous
life； and being 〃slightly dyspeptic。〃 I am assured by my renowned
doctor that my real state of health at that time justifies no
stronger description； and I quote his own from his written answer to
my request for it。
As the circumstances of the murder； gradually unravelling； took
stronger and stronger possession of the public mind； I kept them
away from mine by knowing as little about them as was possible in
the midst of the universal excitement。 But I knew that a verdict of
Wilful Murder had been found against the suspected murderer； and
that he had been committed to Newgate for trial。 I also knew that
his trial had been postponed over one Sessions of the Central
Criminal Court； on the ground of general prejudice and want of time
for the preparation of the defence。 I may further have known； but I
believe I did not； when； or about when； the Sessions to which his
trial stood postponed would come on。
My sitting…room； bedroom； and dressing…room； are all on one floor。
With the last there is no communication but through the bedroom。
True； there is a door in it； once communicating with the staircase；
but a part of the fitting of my bath has beenand had then been for
some yearsfixed across it。 At the same period； and as a part of
the same arrangement；the door had been nailed up and canvased
over。
I was standing in my bedroom late one night； giving some directions
to my servant before he went to bed。 My face was towards the only
available door of communication with the dressing…room； and it was
closed。 My servant's back was towards that door。 While I was
speaking to him； I saw it open； and a man look in； who very
earnestly and mysteriously beckoned to me。 That man was the man who
had gone second of the two along Piccadilly； and whose face was of
the colour of impure wax。
The figure； having beckoned； drew back； and closed the door。 With
no longer pause than was made by my crossing the bedroom； I opened
the dressing…room door； and looked in。 I had a lighted candle
already in my hand。 I felt no inward expectation of seeing the
figure in the dressing…room； and I did not see it there。
Conscious that my servant stood amazed； I turned round to him； and
said： 〃Derrick； could you believe that in my cool senses I fancied
I saw a〃 As I there laid my hand upon his breast； with a sudden
start he trembled violently； and said； 〃O Lord； yes； sir！ A dead
man beckoning！〃
Now I do not believe that this John Derrick； my trusty and attached
servant for more than twenty years； had any impression whatever of
having seen any such figure； until I touched him。 The change in him
was so startling； when I touched him； that I fully believe he
derived his impression in some occult manner from me at that
instant。
I bade John Derrick bring some brandy； and I gave him a dram； and
was glad to take one myself。 Of what had preceded that night's
phenomenon； I told him not a single word。 Reflecting on it； I was
absolutely certain that I had never seen that face before； except on
the one occasion in Piccadilly。 Comparing its expression when
beckoning at the door with its expression when it had stared up at
me as I stood at my window； I came to the conclusion that on the
first occasion it had sought to fasten itself upon my memory； and
that on the second occasion it had made sure of being immediately
remembered。
I was not very comfortable that night； though I felt a certainty；
difficult to explain； that the figure would not return。 At daylight
I fell into a heavy sleep； from which I was awakened by John
Derrick's coming to my bedside with a paper in his hand。
This paper； it appeared； had been the subject of an altercation at
the door between its bearer and my servant。 It was a summons to me
to serve upon a Jury at the forthcoming Sessions of the Central
Criminal Court at the Old Bailey。 I had never before been summoned
on such a Jury； as John Derrick well knew。 He believedI am not
certain at this hour whether with reason or otherwisethat that
class of Jurors were customarily chosen on a lower qualification
than mine； and he had at first refused to accept the summons。 The
man who served it had taken the matter very coolly。 He had said
that my attendance or non…attendance was nothing to him； there the
summons was； and I should deal with it at my own peril； and not at
his。
For a day or two I was undecided whether to respond to this call； or
take no notice of it。 I was not conscious of the slightest
mysterious bias； influence； or attraction； one way or other。 Of
that I am as strictly sure as of every other statement that I make
here。 Ultimately I decided； as a break in the monotony of my life；
that I would go。
The appointed morning was a raw morning in the month of November。
There was a dense brown fog in Piccadilly； and it became positively
black and in the last degree oppressive East of Temple Bar。 I found
the passages and staircases of the Court…House flaringly lighted
with gas； and the Court itself similarly illuminated。 I THINK that；
until I was conducted by officers into the Old Court and saw its
crowded state； I did not know that the Murderer was to be tried that
day。 I THINK that； until I was so helped into the Old Court with
considerable difficulty； I did not know into which of the two Courts
sitting my summons would take me。 But this must not be received as
a positive assertion； for I am