Красная комната

           “If,"saidI,“youwillshowmetothishauntedroomofyours,Iwillmakemyselfcomfortablethere." 

           Theoldmanwiththecoughjerkedhisheadbacksosuddenlythatitstartledme,andshotanotherglanceofhisredeyesatmefromoutofthedarknessundertheshade,butnooneansweredme. Iwaitedaminute,glancingfromonetotheother. Theoldwomanstaredlikeadeadbody,glaringintothefirewithlack-lustreeyes. 

           “If,"Isaid,alittlelouder,“ifyouwillshowmetothishauntedroomofyours,Iwillrelieveyoufromthetaskofentertainingme." 

           “There’sacandleontheslaboutsidethedoor,"saidthemanwiththewitheredhand,lookingatmyfeetasheaddressedme. “ButifyougototheRedRoomto-night—" 

           “Thisnightofallnights!"saidtheoldwoman,softly. 

           “—Yougoalone." 

           “Verywell,"Ianswered,shortly,“andwhichwaydoIgo?" 

           “Yougoalongthepassageforabit,"saidhe,noddinghisheadonhisshoulderatthedoor,“untilyoucometoaspiralstaircase;andonthesecondlandingisadoorcoveredwithgreenbaize. Gothroughthat,anddownthelongcorridortotheend,andtheRedRoomisonyourleftupthesteps." 

           “HaveIgotthatright?"Isaid,andrepeatedhisdirections. 

           Hecorrectedmeinoneparticular. 

           “Andyouarereallygoing?"saidthemanwiththeshade,lookingatmeagainforthethirdtimewiththatqueer,unnaturaltiltingoftheface. 

           “Thisnightofallnights!"whisperedtheoldwoman. 

           “ItiswhatIcamefor,"Isaid,andmovedtowardthedoor.