Красная комната

           “Steadyon!"Isaid,“thosecandlesarewanted," speakingwithahalf-hystericalfacetiousness,andscratchingawayatamatchthewhile,“forthemantelcandlesticks." MyhandstrembledsomuchthattwiceImissedtheroughpaperofthematchbox. Asthemantelemergedfromdarknessagain,twocandlesintheremoterendoftheroomwereeclipsed. ButwiththesamematchIalsorelitthelargermirrorcandles,andthoseonthefloornearthedoorway,sothatforthemomentIseemedtogainontheextinctions. Buttheninanoiselessvolleytherevanishedfourlightsatonceindifferentcornersoftheroom,andIstruckanothermatchinquiveringhaste,andstoodhesitatingwhithertotakeit. 

           AsIstoodundecided,aninvisiblehandseemedtosweepoutthetwocandlesonthetable. WithacryofterrorIdashedatthealcove,thenintothecornerandthenintothewindow,relightingthreeastwomorevanishedbythefireplace,andthen,perceivingabetterway,Idroppedmatchesontheiron-bounddeedboxinthecorner,andcaughtupthebedroomcandlestick. WiththisIavoidedthedelayofstrikingmatches, butforallthatthesteadyprocessofextinctionwenton,andtheshadowsIfearedandfoughtagainstreturned,andcreptinuponme,firstastepgainedonthissideofme,thenonthat. Iwasnowalmostfranticwiththehorrorofthecomingdarkness,andmyself-possessiondesertedme. Ileapedpantingfromcandletocandleinavainstruggleagainstthatremorselessadvance.