the notch on the ax and on being found out-第8章

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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　evidently　from　a　lover　to　his　mistress；
or　a　husband　to　some　young　wife。　　Not　only　the　terms　of　expression；
but　a　distinct　reference　to　a　former　voyage；　indicated　the　writer
to　have　been　a　seafarer。　　The　spelling　and　handwriting　were　those
of　a　man　imperfectly　educated；　but　still　the　language　itself　was
forcible。　　In　the　expressions　of　endearment　there　was　a　kind　of
rough；　wild　love；　but　here　and　there　were　dark　unintelligible　hints
at　some　secret　not　of　love；some　secret　that　seemed　of　crime。　　〃We
ought　to　love　each　other；〃　was　one　of　the　sentences　I　remember；
〃for　how　everyone　else　would　execrate　us　if　all　was　known。〃　　Again：
〃Don't　let　anyone　be　in　the　same　room　with　you　at　night；you　talk
in　your　sleep。〃　　And　again：　〃What's　done　can't　be　undone；　and　I
tell　you　there's　nothing　against　us　unless　the　dead　could　come　to
life。〃　　Here　there　was　underlined　in　a　better　handwriting　（a
female's）；　〃They　do！〃　　At　the　end　of　the　letter　latest　in　date　the
same　female　hand　had　written　these　words：　〃Lost　at　sea　the　4th　of
June；　the　same　day　as〃

I　put　down　the　letters；　and　began　to　muse　over　their　contents。

Fearing；　however；　that　the　train　of　thought　into　which　I　fell　might
unsteady　my　nerves；　I　fully　determined　to　keep　my　mind　in　a　fit
state　to　cope　with　whatever　of　marvelous　the　advancing　night　might
bring　forth。　　I　roused　myself；　laid　the　letters　on　the　table；
stirred　up　the　fire；　which　was　still　bright　and　cheering；　and
opened　my　volume　of　Macaulay。　　I　read　quietly　enough　till　about
half　past　eleven。　　I　then　threw　myself　dressed　upon　the　bed；　and
told　my　servant　he　might　retire　to　his　own　room；　but　must　keep
himself　awake。　　I　bade　him　leave　open　the　door　between　the　two
rooms。　　Thus　alone；　I　kept　two　candles　burning　on　the　table　by　my
bed　head。　　I　placed　my　watch　beside　the　weapons；　and　calmly　resumed
my　Macaulay。　　Opposite　to　me　the　fire　burned　clear；　and　on　the
hearth　rug；　seemingly　asleep；　lay　the　dog。　　In　about　twenty　minutes
I　felt　an　exceedingly　cold　air　pass　by　my　cheek；　like　a　sudden
draught。　　I　fancied　the　door　to　my　right；　communicating　with　the
landing　place；　must　have　got　open；　but　no；it　was　closed。　　I　then
turned　my　glance　to　my　left；　and　saw　the　flame　of　the　candles
violently　swayed　as　by　a　wind。　　At　the　same　moment　the　watch　beside
the　revolver　softly　slid　from　the　table；softly；　softly；　no
visible　hand；it　was　gone。　　I　sprang　up；　seizing　the　revolver　with
the　one　hand；　the　dagger　with　the　other；　I　was　not　willing　that　my
weapons　should　share　the　fate　of　the　watch。　　Thus　armed；　I　looked
round　the　floor；no　sign　of　the　watch。　　Three　slow；　loud；　distinct
knocks　were　now　heard　at　the　bed　head；　my　servant　called　out；　〃Is
that　you；　sir？〃

〃No；　be　on　your　guard。〃

The　dog　now　roused　himself　and　sat　on　his　haunches；　his　ears　moving
quickly　backward　and　forward。　　He　kept　his　eyes　fixed　on　me　with　a
look　so　strange　that　he　concentered　all　my　attention　on　himself。
Slowly　he　rose　up；　all　his　hair　bristling；　and　stood　perfectly
rigid；　and　with　the　same　wild　stare。　　I　had　no　time；　however；　to
examine　the　dog。　　Presently　my　servant　emerged　from　his　room；　and
if　ever　I　saw　horror　in　the　human　face；　it　was　then。　　I　should　not
have　recognized　him　had　we　met　in　the　street；　so　altered　was　every
lineament。　　He　passed　by　me　quickly；　saying；　in　a　whisper　that
seemed　scarcely　to　come　from　his　lips；　〃Run；　run！　it　is　after　me！〃
He　gained　the　door　to　the　landing；　pulled　it　open；　and　rushed
forth。　　I　followed　him　into　the　landing　involuntarily；　calling　him
to　stop；　but；　without　heeding　me；　he　bounded　down　the　stairs；
clinging　to　the　balusters；　and　taking　several　steps　at　a　time。　　I
heard；　where　I　stood；　the　street　door　open；heard　it　again　clap
to。　　I　was　left　alone　in　the　haunted　house。

It　was　but　for　a　moment　that　I　remained　undecided　whether　or　not　to
follow　my　servant；　pride　and　curiosity　alike　forbade　so　dastardly　a
flight。　　I　re…entered　my　room；　closing　the　door　after　me；　and
proceeded　cautiously　into　the　interior　chamber。　　I　encountered
nothing　to　justify　my　servant's　t