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I was engaged for the rest of the day on business so urgent that I
had not leisure to think much on the nocturnal adventure to which I
had plighted my honor。 I dined alone； and very late； and while
dining； read； as is my habit。 I selected one of the volumes of
Macaulay's Essays。 I thought to myself that I would take the book
with me； there was so much of healthfulness in the style； and
practical life in the subjects； that it would serve as an antidote
against the influences of superstitious fancy。
Accordingly； about half…past nine； I put the book into my pocket；
and strolled leisurely toward the haunted house。 I took with me a
favorite dog： an exceedingly sharp； bold； and vigilant bull
terrier；a dog fond of prowling about strange； ghostly corners and
passages at night in search of rats； a dog of dogs for a ghost。
I reached the house； knocked； and my servant opened with a cheerful
smile。
We did not stay long in the drawing…rooms；in fact； they felt so
damp and so chilly that I was glad to get to the fire upstairs。 We
locked the doors of the drawing…rooms；a precaution which； I
should observe； we had taken with all the rooms we had searched
below。 The bedroom my servant had selected for me was the best on
the floor；a large one； with two windows fronting the street。 The
four…posted bed； which took up no inconsiderable space； was
opposite to the fire； which burned clear and bright； a door in the
wall to the left； between the bed and the window； communicated with
the room which my servant appropriated to himself。 This last was a
small room with a sofa bed； and had no communication with the
landing place；no other door but that which conducted to the
bedroom I was to occupy。 On either side of my fireplace was a
cupboard without locks； flush with the wall； and covered with the
same dull…brown paper。 We examined these cupboards；only hooks to
suspend female dresses； nothing else； we sounded the walls；
evidently solid； the outer walls of the building。 Having finished
the survey of these apartments； warmed myself a few moments； and
lighted my cigar； I then； still accompanied by F； went forth to
complete my reconnoiter。 In the landing place there was another
door； it was closed firmly。 〃Sir；〃 said my servant； in surprise；
〃I unlocked this door with all the others when I first came； it
cannot have got locked from the inside； for〃
Before he had finished his sentence； the door； which neither of us
then was touching； opened quietly of itself。 We looked at each
other a single instant。 The same thought seized both；some human
agency might be detected here。 I rushed in first； my servant
followed。 A small； blank； dreary room without furniture； a few
empty boxes and hampers in a corner； a small window； the shutters
closed； not even a fireplace； no other door but that by which we
had entered； no carpet on the floor； and the floor seemed very old；
uneven； worm…eaten； mended here and there； as was shown by the
whiter patches on the wood； but no living being； and no visible
place in which a living being could have hidden。 As we stood
gazing round； the door by which we had entered closed as quietly as
it had before opened； we were imprisoned。
For the first time I felt a creep of indefinable horror。 Not so my
servant。 〃Why； they don't think to trap us； sir； I could break
that trumpery door with a kick of my foot。〃
〃Try first if it will open to your hand；〃 said I； shaking off the
vague apprehension that had seized me； 〃while I unclose the
shutters and see what is without。〃
I unbarred the shutters；the window looked on the little back yard
I have before described； there was no ledge without；nothing to
break the sheer descent of the wall。 No man getting out of that
window would have found any footing till he had fallen on the
stones below。
F； meanwhile； was vainly attempting to open the door。 He now
turned round to me and asked my permission to use force。 And I
should here state； in justice to the servant； that； far from
evincing any superstitious terrors； his nerve； composure； and even
gayety amidst circumstances so extraordinary； compelled my
admiration； and made me congratulate myself on having secured a
companion in every way fitted to the occasion。 I willingly gave
him the permission he required。 But though he was a remarkably
strong man； his force was as idle as his milder efforts； the door
did not even shake to his stoutest kick。 Breathless and panting；
he desisted。 I then tried the door myself； equally in vain。 As I
ceased from the effort； again that creep of horror came over me；
but this time it was more cold and stubborn。 I felt as if some
strange and ghastly exhalation were rising up from the chinks of
that rugged floor； and filling the atmosphere with a venomous
influence hostile to human life。 The door now very slowly and
quietly opened as of its own accord。 We precipitated ourselves
into the landing place。 We both saw a large； pale lightas large
as the human figure； but shapeless and unsubstantialmove before
us； and ascend the stairs that led from the landing into the
attics。 I followed the light； and my servant followed me。 It
entered； to the right of the landing； a small garret； of which the
door stood open。 I entered in the same instant。 The light then
collapsed into a small globule； exceedingly brilliant and vivid；
rested a moment on a bed in the corner； quivered； and vanished。 We
approached the bed and examined it；a half…tester； such as is
commonly found in attics devoted to servants。 On the drawers that
stood near it we perceived an old faded silk kerchief； with the
needle still left in a rent half repaired。 The kerchief was
covered with dust； probably it had belonged to the old woman who
had last died in that house； and this might have been her sleeping
room。 I had sufficient curiosity to open the drawers： there were a
few odds and ends of female dress； and two letters tied round with
a narrow ribbon of faded yellow。 I took the liberty to possess
myself of the letters。 We found nothing else in the room worth
noticing；nor did the light reappear； but we distinctly heard； as
we turned to go； a pattering footfall on the floor； just before us。
We went through the other attics （in all four）； the footfall still
preceding us。 Nothing to be seen；nothing but the footfall heard。
I had the letters in my hand； just as I was descending the stairs I
distinctly felt my wrist seized； and a faint； soft effort made to
draw the letters from my clasp。 I only held them the more tightly；
and the effort ceased。
We regained the bedchamber appropriated to myself； and I then
remarked that my dog had not followed us when we had left it。 He
was thrusting himself close to the fire； and trembling。 I was
impatient to examine the letters； and while I read them； my servant
opened a little box in which he had deposited the weapons I had
ordered him to bring； took them out； placed them on a table close
at my bed head； and then occupied himself in soothing the dog； who；
however； seemed to heed him very little。
The letters were short；they were dated； the dates exactly thirty…
five years ago。 They were