Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Buttocomebacktothepoint,Isleptonenightwiththisfunnelbesideme,andIhadadreamwhichcertainlythrowsacuriouslightuponitsuseandorigin."

           "Whatdidyoudream?"

           "Idreamed——"Hepaused,andanintentlookofinterestcameoverhismassiveface."ByJove,that’swellthoughtof,"saidhe."Thisreallywillbeanexceedinglyinterestingexperiment.Youareyourselfapsychicsubject—withnerveswhichrespondreadilytoanyimpression."

           "Ihavenevertestedmyselfinthatdirection."

           "Thenweshalltestyoutonight.MightIaskyouasaverygreatfavour,whenyouoccupythatcouchtonight,tosleepwiththisoldfunnelplacedbythesideofyourpillow?"

           Therequestseemedtomeagrotesqueone;butIhavemyself,inmycomplexnature,ahungerafterallwhichisbizarreandfantastic.IhadnotthefaintestbeliefinDacre’stheory,noranyhopesforsuccessinsuchanexperiment;yetitamusedmethattheexperimentshouldbemade.Dacre,withgreatgravity,drewasmallstandtotheheadofmysettee,andplacedthefunneluponit.Then,afterashortconversation,hewishedmegoodnightandleftme.

           Isatforsomelittletimesmokingbythesmoulderingfire,andturningoverinmymindthecuriousincidentwhichhadoccurred,andthestrangeexperiencewhichmightliebeforeme.ScepticalasIwas,therewassomethingimpressiveintheassuranceofDacre’smanner,andmyextraordinarysurroundings,thehugeroomwiththestrangeandoftensinisterobjectswhichwerehungroundit,strucksolemnityintomysoul.FinallyIundressed,andturningoutthelamp,Ilaydown.