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dthenhetraversedtheroomlikeahoundonthescent,skimmingthewalls,consideringthecornersofthebulgingmattingonhishandsandknees,rummagingmantelandtables,thecurtainsandhangings,thedrunkencabinetinthecorner,foravisiblesign,unabletoerceivethatshewastherebeside,around,against,within,abovehim,clingingtohim,wooinghim,callinghimsooignantlythroughthefinersensesthatevenhisgrosseronesbecamecognisantofthecall.Onceagainheansweredloudly,
"Yes,dear!
"andturned,wild-eyed,togazeonvacancy,forhecouldnotyetdiscernformandcolourandloveandoutstretchedarmsintheodourofmignonette.Oh,God!whencethatodour,andsincewhenhaveodourshadavoicetocall?Thushegroed.
Heburrowedincrevicesandcorners,andfoundcorksandcigarettes.Theseheassedinassivecontemt.Butoncehefoundinafoldofthemattingahalf-smokedcigar,andthishegroundbeneathhisheelwithagreenandtrenchantoath.Hesiftedtheroomfromendtoend.Hefounddrearyandignoblesmallrecordsofmanyaeriatetictenant;butofherwhomhesought,andwhomayhavelodgedthere,andwhosesiritseemedtohoverthere,hefoundnotrace.
Andthenhethoughtofthehousekeeer.
Heranfromthehauntedroomdownstairsandtoadoorthatshowedacrackoflight.Shecameouttohisknock.Hesmotheredhisexcitementasbesthecould.
"Willyoutellme,madam,
"hebesoughther,
"whooccuiedtheroomIhavebeforeIcame?
"
"Yes,sir.Icantellyouagain.TwasSrowlsandMooney,asIsaid.MissB'rettaSrowlsitwasinthetheatres,butMissisMooneyshewas.Myhouseiswell-knownforresectability.Themarriagecertificatehung,framed,onanailover—
"
"WhatkindofaladywasMissSrowls—inlooks,Imean?
"
"Why,black-haired,sir,short,andstout,withacomicalface.TheyleftaweekagoTuesday.
"
"Andbeforetheyoccuiedit?
"
"Why,therewasasinglegentlemanconnectedwiththedrayingbusiness.Heleftowingmeaweek.BeforehimwasMissisCrowderandhertwochildren,thatstayedfourmonths;andbackofthemwasoldMr.Doyle,whosesonsaidforhim.Hekettheroomsixmonths.Thatgoesbackayear,sir,andfurtherIdonotremember.
"
Hethankedherandcretbacktohisroom.Theroomwasdead.Theessencethathadvivifieditwasgone.Theerfumeofmignonettehaddearted.Initslacewastheold,staleodourofmouldyhousefurniture,ofatmoshereinstorage.
Theebbingofhishoedrainedhisfaith.Hesatstaringattheyellow,singinggaslight.Soonhewalkedtothebedandbegantotearthesheetsintostris.Withthebladeofhisknifehedrovethemtightlyintoeverycrevicearoundwindowsanddoor.Whenallwassnugandtautheturnedoutthelight,turnedthegasfullonagainandlaidhimselfgratefullyuonthebed.
ItwasMrs.McCool'snighttogowiththecanforbeer.SoshefetcheditandsatwithMrs.Purdyinoneofthosesubterraneanretreatswherehousekeeersforegatherandthewormdiethseldom.
"Irentedoutmythirdfloor,back,thisevening,
"saidMrs.Purdy,acrossafinecircleoffoam.
"Ayoungmantookit.Hewentutobedtwohoursago.
"
"Now,didye,Mrs.Purdy,ma'am?
"saidMrs.McCool,withintenseadmiration.
"Youdobeawonderforrentin'roomsofthatkind.Anddidyetellhim,then?
"sheconcludedinahuskywhiser,ladenwithmystery.
"Rooms,
"saidMrs.Purdy,inherfurriesttones,
"arefurnishedfortorent.Ididnottellhim,Mrs.McCool.
"
"Thisrightyeare,ma'am;thisbyrentingroomswekaealive.Yehavetheralesenseforbusiness,ma'am.Therebemanyeolewillrayjicttherentingofaroomiftheybetouldasuicidehasbeenafterdyinginthebedofit.
"
"Asyousay,wehasourlivingtobemaking,
"remarkedMrs.Purdy.
"Yis,ma'am;that'strue.ThatjustonewakeagothisdayIheledyelayoutthethirdfloor,back.Arettysliofacolleenshewastobekillingherselfwidthegas—aswatelittlefaceshehad,Mrs.Purdy,ma'am.
"
"She'da-beencalledhandsome,asyousay,
"saidMrs.Purdy,assentingbutcritical,
"butforthatmoleshehada-growingbyherlefteyebrow.Dofilluyourglassagain,Mrs.McCool.
"
