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life I agreed with my wife； silly woman though she be；and
allowed； after the third night； that it was impossible to stay a
fourth in that house。 Accordingly； on the fourth morning I
summoned the woman who kept the house and attended on us； and told
her that the rooms did not quite suit us； and we would not stay out
our week。 She said dryly； 'I know why； you have stayed longer than
any other lodger。 Few ever stayed a second night； none before you
a third。 But I take it they have been very kind to you。'
〃'They；who？' I asked； affecting to smile。
〃'Why； they who haunt the house； whoever they are。 I don't mind
them。 I remember them many years ago； when I lived in this house；
not as a servant； but I know they will be the death of me some day。
I don't care；I'm old； and must die soon anyhow； and then I shall
be with them； and in this house still。' The woman spoke with so
dreary a calmness that really it was a sort of awe that prevented
my conversing with her further。 I paid for my week； and too happy
were my wife and I to get off so cheaply。〃
〃You excite my curiosity；〃 said I； 〃nothing I should like better
than to sleep in a haunted house。 Pray give me the address of the
one which you left so ignominiously。〃
My friend gave me the address； and when we parted； I walked
straight toward the house thus indicated。
It is situated on the north side of Oxford Street； in a dull but
respectable thoroughfare。 I found the house shut up；no bill at
the window； and no response to my knock。 As I was turning away； a
beer…boy； collecting pewter pots at the neighboring areas； said to
me； 〃Do you want any one at that house； sir？〃
〃Yes； I heard it was to be let。〃
〃Let！why； the woman who kept it is dead；has been dead these
three weeks； and no one can be found to stay there； though Mr。 J
offered ever so much。 He offered mother； who chars for him； one
pound a week just to open and shut the windows； and she would not。〃
〃Would not！and why？〃
〃The house is haunted； and the old woman who kept it was found dead
in her bed； with her eyes wide open。 They say the devil strangled
her。〃
〃Pooh！ You speak of Mr。 J。 Is he the owner of the house？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Where does he live？〃
〃In G Street； No。 。〃
〃What is he？ In any business？〃
〃No； sir；nothing particular； a single gentleman。〃
I gave the potboy the gratuity earned by his liberal information；
and proceeded to Mr。 J ； in G Street； which was close by
the street that boasted the haunted house。 I was lucky enough to
find Mr。 J at home；an elderly man with intelligent
countenance and prepossessing manners。
I communicated my name and my business frankly。 I said I heard the
house was considered to be haunted； that I had a strong desire to
examine a house with so equivocal a reputation； that I should be
greatly obliged if he would allow me to hire it； though only for a
night。 I was willing to pay for that privilege whatever he might
be inclined to ask。 〃Sir；〃 said Mr。 J； with great courtesy；
〃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