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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