Tales of Terror and Mystery

           "

           Itwasasingularbedroom,withitshighwallsofbrownvolumes,buttherecouldbenomoreagreeablefurnituretoabookwormlikemyself,andthereisnoscentsopleasanttomynostrilsasthatfaint,subtlereekwhichcomesfromanancientbook.IassuredhimthatIcoulddesirenomorecharmingchamber,andnomorecongenialsurroundings.

           "Ifthefittingsareneitherconvenientnorconventional,theyareatleastcostly,"saidhe,lookingroundathisshelves."Ihaveexpendednearlyaquarterofamillionofmoneyupontheseobjectswhichsurroundyou.Books,weapons,gems,carvings,tapestries,images—thereishardlyathingherewhichhasnotitshistory,anditisgenerallyoneworthtelling."

           Hewasseatedashespokeatonesideoftheopenfire-place,andIattheother.Hisreading-tablewasonhisright,andthestronglampaboveitringeditwithaveryvividcircleofgoldenlight.Ahalf-rolledpalimpsestlayinthecentre,andarounditweremanyquaintarticlesofbric-a-brac.Oneofthesewasalargefunnel,suchasisusedforfillingwinecasks.Itappearedtobemadeofblackwood,andtoberimmedwithdiscolouredbrass.

           "Thatisacuriousthing,"Iremarked."Whatisthehistoryofthat?"

           "Ah!"saidhe,"itistheveryquestionwhichIhavehadoccasiontoaskmyself.Iwouldgiveagooddealtoknow.Takeitinyourhandsandexamineit."

           Ididso,andfoundthatwhatIhadimaginedtobewoodwasinrealityleather,thoughagehaddrieditintoanextremehardness.Itwasalargefunnel,andmightholdaquartwhenfull.