Carnacki, The Ghost Finder | Page 3

steady as I
should have liked! I made for the door, and had a bit of work not to
start running. I took some thundering long strides, as you can imagine.
Near the door, I had a sudden feeling that there was a cold wind in the
room. It was almost as if the window had been suddenly opened a little.
I got to the door, and the old butler gave back a step, in a sort of

instinctive way. 'Collar the candles, Peter!' I said, pretty sharply, and
shoved them into his hands. I turned, and caught the handle, and
slammed the door shut, with a crash. Somehow, do you know, as I did
so, I thought I felt something pull back on it; but it must have been only
fancy. I turned the key in the lock, and then again, double-locking the
door. I felt easier then, and set-to and sealed the door. In addition, I put
my card over the keyhole, and sealed it there; after which I pocketed
the key, and went downstairs--with Peter; who was nervous and silent,
leading the way. Poor old beggar! It had not struck me until that
moment that he had been enduring a considerable strain during the last
two or three hours.
"About midnight, I went to bed. My room lay at the end of the corridor
upon which opens the door of the Grey Room. I counted the doors
between it and mine, and found that five rooms lay between. And I am
sure you can understand that I was not sorry. Then, just as I was
beginning to undress, an idea came to me, and I took my candle and
sealing wax, and sealed the doors of all five rooms. If any door
slammed in the night, I should know just which one.
"I returned to my room, locked the door, and went to bed. I was waked
suddenly from a deep sleep by a loud crash somewhere out in the
passage. I sat up in bed, and listened, but heard nothing. Then I lit my
candle. I was in the very act of lighting it when there came the bang of
a door being violently slammed, along the corridor. I jumped out of bed,
and got my revolver. I unlocked the door, and went out into the passage,
holding my candle high, and keeping the pistol ready. Then a queer
thing happened. I could not go a step toward the Grey Room. You all
know I am not really a cowardly chap. I've gone into too many cases
connected with ghostly things, to be accused of that; but I tell you I
funked it; simply funked it, just like any blessed kid. There was
something precious unholy in the air that night. I ran back into my
bedroom, and shut and locked the door. Then I sat on the bed all night,
and listened to the dismal thudding of a door up the corridor. The sound
seemed to echo through all the house.
"Daylight came at last, and I washed and dressed. The door had not

slammed for about an hour, and I was getting back my nerve again. I
felt ashamed of myself; though, in some ways it was silly; for when
you're meddling with that sort of thing, your nerve is bound to go,
sometimes. And you just have to sit quiet and call yourself a coward
until daylight. Sometimes it is more than just cowardice, I fancy. I
believe at times it is something warning you, and fighting for you. But,
all the same, I always feel mean and miserable, after a time like that.
"When the day came properly, I opened my door, and, keeping my
revolver handy, went quietly along the passage. I had to pass the head
of the stairs, along the way, and who should I see coming up, but the
old butler, carrying a cup of coffee. He had merely tucked his nightshirt
into his trousers, and he had an old pair of carpet slippers on.
"'Hullo, Peter!' I said, feeling suddenly cheerful; for I was as glad as
any lost child to have a live human being close to me. 'Where are you
off to with the refreshments?'
"The old man gave a start, and slopped some of the coffee. He stared up
at me, and I could see that he looked white and done-up. He came on
up the stairs, and held out the little tray to me. 'I'm very thankful indeed,
sir, to see you safe and well,' he said. 'I feared, one time, you might risk
going into the Grey Room, sir. I've lain awake all night, with the sound
of the Door. And when it came light, I thought I'd make you a cup of
coffee.