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not get rid of it until it was worn out。
I noticed the peculiarities of this possession； while it was a real
discomfort to me。 That very day； at dinner； some morsel on my
plate looked like a piece of him； and I was glad to get up and go
out。 Later in the evening； I was walking along the Rue St。 Honore；
when I saw a bill at a public room there； announcing small…sword
exercise； broad…sword exercise； wrestling； and other such feats。 I
went in； and some of the sword…play being very skilful； remained。
A specimen of our own national sport； The British Boaxe； was
announced to be given at the close of the evening。 In an evil
hour； I determined to wait for this Boaxe； as became a Briton。 It
was a clumsy specimen （executed by two English grooms out of
place）； but one of the combatants； receiving a straight right…
hander with the glove between his eyes； did exactly what the large
dark creature in the Morgue had seemed going to do … and finished
me for that night。
There was rather a sickly smell （not at all an unusual fragrance in
Paris） in the little ante…room of my apartment at the hotel。 The
large dark creature in the Morgue was by no direct experience
associated with my sense of smell； because； when I came to the
knowledge of him； he lay behind a wall of thick plate…glass as good
as a wall of steel or marble for that matter。 Yet the whiff of the
room never failed to reproduce him。 What was more curious； was the
capriciousness with which his portrait seemed to light itself up in
my mind； elsewhere。 I might be walking in the Palais Royal； lazily
enjoying the shop windows； and might be regaling myself with one of
the ready…made clothes shops that are set out there。 My eyes；
wandering over impossible…waisted dressing…gowns and luminous
waistcoats； would fall upon the master； or the shopman； or even the
very dummy at the door； and would suggest to me； 'Something like
him！' … and instantly I was sickened again。
This would happen at the theatre； in the same manner。 Often it
would happen in the street； when I certainly was not looking for
the likeness； and when probably there was no likeness there。 It
was not because the creature was dead that I was so haunted；
because I know that I might have been （and I know it because I have
been） equally attended by the image of a living aversion。 This
lasted about a week。 The picture did not fade by degrees； in the
sense that it became a whit less forcible and distinct； but in the
sense that it obtruded itself less and less frequently。 The
experience may be worth considering by some who have the care of
children。 It would be difficult to overstate the intensity and
accuracy of an intelligent child's observation。 At that
impressible time of life； it must sometimes produce a fixed
impression。 If the fixed impression be of an object terrible to
the child； it will be （for want of reasoning upon） inseparable from
great fear。 Force the child at such a time； be Spartan with it；
send it into the dark against its will； leave it in a lonely
bedroom against its will； and you had better murder it。
On a bright morning I rattled away from Paris； in the German
chariot； and left the large dark creature behind me for good。 I
ought to confess； though； that I had been drawn back to the Morgue；
after he was put underground； to look at his clothes； and that I
found them frightfully like him … particularly his boots。 However；
I rattled away for Switzerland； looking forward and not backward；
and so we parted company。
Welcome again； the long； long spell of France； with the queer
country inns； full of vases of flowers and clocks； in the dull
little town； and with the little population not at all dull on the
little Boulevard in the evening； under the little trees！ Welcome
Monsieur the Cure； walking alone in the early morning a short way
out of the town； reading that eternal Breviary of yours； which
surely might be almost read； without book； by this time！ Welcome
Monsieur the Cure； later in the day； jolting through the highway
dust （as if you had already ascended to the cloudy region）； in a
very big…headed cabriolet； with the dried mud of a dozen winters on
it。 Welcome again Monsieur the Cure； as we exchange salutations；
you； straightening your back to look at the German chariot； while
picking in your little village garden a vegetable or two for the
day's soup： I； looking out of the German chariot window in that
delicious traveller's trance which knows no cares； no yesterdays；
no to…morrows； nothing but the passing objects and the passing
scents and sounds！ And so I came； in due course of delight； to
Strasbourg； where I passed a wet Sunday evening at a window； while
an idle trifle of a vaudeville was played for me at the opposite
house。
How such a large house came to have only three people living in it；
was its own affair。 There were at least a score of windows in its
high roof alone； how many in its grotesque front； I soon gave up
counting。 The owner was a shopkeeper； by name Straudenheim； by
trade … I couldn't make out what by trade； for he had forborne to
write that up； and his shop was shut。
At first； as I looked at Straudenheim's； through the steadily
falling rain； I set him up in business in the goose…liver line。
But； inspection of Straudenheim； who became visible at a window on
the second floor； convinced me that there was something more
precious than liver in the case。 He wore a black velvet skull…cap；
and looked usurious and rich。 A large…lipped； pear…nosed old man；
with white hair； and keen eyes； though near…sighted。 He was
writing at a desk； was Straudenheim； and ever and again left off
writing； put his pen in his mouth； and went through actions with
his right hand； like a man steadying piles of cash。 Five…franc
pieces； Straudenheim； or golden Napoleons？ A jeweller；
Straudenheim； a dealer in money； a diamond merchant； or what？
Below Straudenheim； at a window on the first floor； sat his
housekeeper … far from young； but of a comely presence； suggestive
of a well…matured foot and ankle。 She was cheerily dressed； had a
fan in her hand； and wore large gold earrings and a large gold
cross。 She would have been out holiday…making （as I settled it）
but for the pestilent rain。 Strasbourg had given up holiday…making
for that once； as a bad job； because the rain was jerking in gushes
out of the old roof…spouts； and running in a brook down the middle
of the street。 The housekeeper； her arms folded on her bosom and
her fan tapping her chin； was bright and smiling at her open
window； but otherwise Straudenheim's house front was very dreary。
The housekeeper's was the only open window in it； Straudenheim kept
himself close； though it was a sultry evening when air is pleasant；
and though the rain had brought into the town that vague refreshing
smell of grass which rain does bring in the summer…time。
The dim appearance of a man at Straudenheim's s