Красная комната

           Istoodwatchingtheminutehandofmywatchcreeptowardsmidnight. 

           Thensomethinghappenedinthealcove. Ididnotseethecandlegoout,Isimplyturnedandsawthatthedarknesswasthere,asonemightstartandseetheunexpectedpresenceofastranger. Theblackshadowhadsprungbacktoitsplace. “ByJove,"saidIaloud,recoveringfrommysurprise,“thatdraft’sastrongone;"andtakingthematchboxfromthetable,Iwalkedacrosstheroominaleisurelymannertorelightthecorneragain. Myfirstmatchwouldnotstrike,andasIsucceededwiththesecond,somethingseemedtoblinkonthewallbeforeme. Iturnedmyheadinvoluntarilyandsawthatthetwocandlesonthelittletablebythefireplacewereextinguished. Iroseatoncetomyfeet. 

           “Odd,"Isaid.“DidIdothatmyselfinaflashofabsent-mindedness?" 

           Iwalkedback,relitone,andasIdidsoIsawthecandleintherightsconceofoneofthemirrorswinkandgorightout,andalmostimmediatelyitscompanionfollowedit. Theflamesvanishedasifthewickhadbeensuddenlynippedbetweenafingerandthumb,leavingthewickneitherglowingnorsmoking,butblack. WhileIstoodgapingthecandleatthefootofthebedwentout,andtheshadowsseemedtotakeanothersteptowardme. 

           “Thiswon’tdo!"saidI,andfirstoneandthenanothercandleonthemantelshelffollowed. 

           “What’sup?"Icried,withaqueerhighnotegettingintomyvoicesomehow. Atthatthecandleonthecornerofthewardrobewentout,andtheoneIhadrelitinthealcovefollowed.