the notch on the ax and on being found out-第7章

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〃Oh；　how　did　this　happen；　how　did　this　happen？〃　I　asked；　turning
from　one　to　another　as　the　hut　closed　in　again。

〃He　was　cut　down　by　an　engine；　sir。　　No　man　in　England　knew　his
work　better。　　But　somehow　he　was　not　clear　of　the　outer　rail。　　It
was　just　at　broad　day。　　He　had　struck　the　light；　and　had　the　lamp
in　his　hand。　　As　the　engine　came　out　of　the　tunnel；　his　back　was
towards　her；　and　she　cut　him　down。　　That　man　drove　her；　and　was
showing　how　it　happened。　　Show　the　gentleman；　Tom。〃

The　man；　who　wore　a　rough　dark　dress；　stepped　back　to　his　former
place　at　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel。

〃Coming　round　the　curve　in　the　tunnel；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　saw　him　at
the　end；　like　as　if　I　saw　him　down　a　perspective…glass。　　There　was
no　time　to　check　speed；　and　I　knew　him　to　be　very　careful。　　As　he
didn't　seem　to　take　heed　of　the　whistle；　I　shut　it　off　when　we　were
running　down　upon　him；　and　called　to　him　as　loud　as　I　could　call。〃

〃What　did　you　say？〃

〃I　said；　'Below　there！　　Look　out！　　Look　out！　　For　God's　sake；　clear
the　way！'〃

I　started。

〃Ah！　it　was　a　dreadful　time；　sir。　　I　never　left　off　calling　to　him。
I　put　this　arm　before　my　eyes　not　to　see；　and　I　waved　this　arm　to
the　last；　but　it　was　no　use。〃


Without　prolonging　the　narrative　to　dwell　on　any　one　of　its　curious
circumstances　more　than　on　any　other；　I　may；　in　closing　it；　point
out　the　coincidence　that　the　warning　of　the　Engine…Driver　included；
not　only　the　words　which　the　unfortunate　Signal…man　had　repeated　to
me　as　haunting　him；　but　also　the　words　which　I　myselfnot　hehad
attached；　and　that　only　in　my　own　mind；　to　the　gesticulation　he　had
imitated。



Bulwer　Lytton


The　Haunted　and　the　Haunters；
Or；　The　House　and　the　Brain


A　friend　of　mine；　who　is　a　man　of　letters　and　a　philosopher；　said
to　me　one　day；　as　if　between　jest　and　earnest；　〃Fancy！　since　we
last　met　I　have　discovered　a　haunted　house　in　the　midst　of　London。〃

〃Really　haunted；and　by　what？ghosts？〃

〃Well；　I　can't　answer　that　question；　all　I　know　is　this：　six　weeks
ago　my　wife　and　I　were　in　search　of　a　furnished　apartment。　　Passing
a　quiet　street；　we　saw　on　the　window　of　one　of　the　houses　a　bill；
'Apartments；　Furnished。'　　The　situation　suited　us；　we　entered　the
house；　liked　the　rooms；　engaged　them　by　the　week；and　left　them
the　third　day。　　No　power　on　earth　could　have　reconciled　my　wife　to
stay　longer；　and　I　don't　wonder　at　it。〃

〃What　did　you　see？〃

〃Excuse　me；　I　have　no　desire　to　be　ridiculed　as　a　superstitious
dreamer；nor；　on　the　other　hand；　could　I　ask　you　to　accept　on　my
affirmation　what　you　would　hold　to　be　incredible　without　the
evidence　of　your　own　senses。　　Let　me　only　say　this；　it　was　not　so
much　what　we　saw　or　heard　（in　which　you　might　fairly　suppose　that
we　were　the　dupes　of　our　own　excited　fancy；　or　the　victims　of
imposture　in　others）　that　drove　us　away；　as　it　was　an　indefinable
terror　which　seized　both　of　us　whenever　we　passed　by　the　door　of　a
certain　unfurnished　room；　in　which　we　neither　saw　nor　heard
anything。　　And　the　strangest　marvel　of　all　was；　that　for　once　in　my
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　t