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〃the house is at your service； for as short or as long a time as
you please。 Rent is out of the question；the obligation will be
on my side should you be able to discover the cause of the strange
phenomena which at present deprive it of all value。 I cannot let
it； for I cannot even get a servant to keep it in order or answer
the door。 Unluckily the house is haunted； if I may use that
expression； not only by night； but by day； though at night the
disturbances are of a more unpleasant and sometimes of a more
alarming character。 The poor old woman who died in it three weeks
ago was a pauper whom I took out of a workhouse； for in her
childhood she had been known to some of my family； and had once
been in such good circumstances that she had rented that house of
my uncle。 She was a woman of superior education and strong mind；
and was the only person I could ever induce to remain in the house。
Indeed； since her death； which was sudden； and the coroner's
inquest； which gave it a notoriety in the neighborhood； I have so
despaired of finding any person to take charge of the house； much
more a tenant； that I would willingly let it rent free for a year
to anyone who would pay its rates and taxes。〃
〃How long is it since the house acquired this sinister character？〃
〃That I can scarcely tell you； but very many years since。 The old
woman I spoke of； said it was haunted when she rented it between
thirty and forty years ago。 The fact is； that my life has been
spent in the East Indies； and in the civil service of the Company。
I returned to England last year； on inheriting the fortune of an
uncle； among whose possessions was the house in question。 I found
it shut up and uninhabited。 I was told that it was haunted； that
no one would inhabit it。 I smiled at what seemed to me so idle a
story。 I spent some money in repairing it； added to its old…
fashioned furniture a few modern articles；advertised it； and
obtained a lodger for a year。 He was a colonel on half pay。 He
came in with his family； a son and a daughter； and four or five
servants： they all left the house the next day； and； although each
of them declared that he had seen something different from that
which had scared the others； a something still was equally terrible
to all。 I really could not in conscience sue； nor even blame； the
colonel for breach of agreement。 Then I put in the old woman I
have spoken of； and she was empowered to let the house in
apartments。 I never had one lodger who stayed more than three
days。 I do not tell you their stories；to no two lodgers have
there been exactly the same phenomena repeated。 It is better that
you should judge for yourself； than enter the house with an
imagination influenced by previous narratives； only be prepared to
see and to hear something or other； and take whatever precautions
you yourself please。〃
〃Have you never had a curiosity yourself to pass a night in that
house？〃
〃Yes。 I passed not a night； but three hours in broad daylight
alone in that house。 My curiosity is not satisfied； but it is
quenched。 I have no desire to renew the experiment。 You cannot
complain； you see； sir； that I am not sufficiently candid； and
unless your interest be exceedingly eager and your nerves unusually
strong； I honestly add； that I advise you NOT to pass a night in
that house。
〃My interest IS exceedingly keen；〃 said I； 〃and though only a
coward will boast of his nerves in situations wholly unfamiliar to
him； yet my nerves have been seasoned in such variety of danger
that I have the right to rely on them；even in a haunted house。〃
Mr。 J said very little more； he took the keys of the house out
of his bureau； gave them to me；and； thanking him cordially for
his frankness； and his urbane concession to my wish； I carried off
my prize。
Impatient for the experiment； as soon as I reached home； I summoned
my confidential servant；a young man of gay spirits； fearless
temper； and as free from superstitious prejudice as anyone I could
think of。
F；〃 said I； 〃you remember in Germany how disappointed we were
at not finding a ghost in that old castle； which was said to be
haunted by a headless apparition？ Well； I have heard of a house in
London which； I have reason to hope； is decidedly haunted。 I mean
to sleep there to…night。 From what I hear； there is no doubt that
something will allow itself to be seen or to be heard；something；
perhaps； excessively horrible。 Do you think if I take you with me；
I may rely on your presence of mind； whatever may happen？〃
〃Oh； sir； pray trust me；〃 answered F； grinning with delight。
〃Very well； then here are the keys of the house；this is the
address。 Go now；select for me any bedroom you please； and since
the house has not been inhabited for weeks； make up a good fire；
air the bed well；see； of course； that there are candles as well
as fuel。 Take with you my revolver and my dagger；so much for my
weapons； arm yourself equally well； and if we are not a match for a
dozen ghosts； we shall be but a sorry couple of Englishmen。
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
adm