Chapter1

ItwasfortunateformethatIhadtotakeprecautionstoensure (sofarasIcould) thesafetyofmydreadedvisitor; for, thisthoughtpressingonmewhenIawoke, heldotherthoughtsinaconfusedconcourseatadistance.

, , IhadnoAvengerinmyservicenow, butIwaslookedafterbyaninflammatoryoldfemale, assistedbyananimatedrag-bagwhomshecalledherniece, , whichIhadlongattributedtotheirchronicallylookinginatkeyholes, andtheywerealwaysathandwhennotwanted; , Iresolvedtoannounceinthemorningthatmyunclehadunexpectedlycomefromthecountry.

, , ingropingmywaydowntheblackstaircaseIfelloversomething, andthatsomethingwasamancrouchinginacorner.

AsthemanmadenoanswerwhenIaskedhimwhathedidthere, buteludedmytouchinsilence, IrantotheLodgeandurgedthewatchmantocomequickly: , wedidnotcaretoendangerthelightinthelanternbyrekindlingtheextinguishedlampsonthestaircase, ; so, lightingmycandleatthewatchman’s, andleavinghimstandingatthedoor, Iexaminedthemcarefully, , andassuredlynoothermanwasinthosechambers.

Ittroubledmethatthereshouldhavebeenalurkeronthestairs, onthatnightofallnightsintheyear, andIaskedthewatchman, onthechanceofelicitingsomehopefulexplanationasIhandedhimadramatthedoor, whetherhehadadmittedathisgateanygentlemanwhohadperceptiblybeendiningout? Yes, hesaid; atdifferenttimesofthenight, , andtheothertwolivedintheLane, , theonlyothermanwhodweltinthehouseofwhichmychambersformedapart, hadbeeninthecountryforsomeweeks, andhecertainlyhadnotreturnedinthenight, becausewehadseenhisdoorwithhissealonitaswecameup-stairs.