I
tried to laugh, but could only make a grimace; and found all the
muscles of my face twitching at sixes and sevens, and totally out of
all control.
It takes but little to raise a laugh among a set of fox-hunters. There
was a world of merriment and joking at my expense; and as I never
relished a joke overmuch when it was at my own expense, I began to feel
a little nettled. I tried to look cool and calm and to restrain my
pique; but the coolness and calmness of a man in a passion are
confounded treacherous.
Gentlemen, said I, with a slight cocking of the chin, and a bad attempt
at a smile, this is all very pleasant - ha! ha! - very pleasant - but I'd
have you know I am as little superstitious as any of you - ha! ha! - and
as to anything like timidity - you may smile, gentlemen - but I trust
there is no one here means to insinuate that. - As to a room's being
haunted, I repeat, gentlemen - (growing a little warm at seeing a cursed
grin breaking out round me) - as to a room's being haunted, I have as
little faith in such silly stories as any one. But, since you put the
matter home to me, I will say that I have met with something in my room
strange and inexplicable to me - (a shout of laughter). Gentlemen, I am
serious - I know well what I am saying - I am calm, gentlemen, (striking
my flat upon the table) - by heaven I am calm. I am neither trifling,
nor do I wish to be trifled with - (the laughter of the company
suppressed with ludicrous attempts at gravity). There is a picture in
the room in which I was put last night, that has had an effect upon me
the most singular and incomprehensible.
"A picture!" said the old gentleman with the haunted head. "A picture!"
cried the narrator with the waggish nose. "A picture! a picture!"
echoed several voices. Here there was an ungovernable peal of laughter.
I could not contain myself. I started up from my seat - looked round on
the company with fiery indignation - thrust both my hands into my
pockets, and strode up to one of the windows, as though I would have
walked through it. I stopped short; looked out upon the landscape
without distinguishing a feature of it; and felt my gorge rising almost
to suffocation.
Mine host saw it was time to interfere. He had maintained an air of
Gravity through the whole of the scene, and now stepped forth as if to
shelter me from the overwhelming merriment of my companions.
"Gentlemen," said he, "I dislike to spoil sport, but you have had your
laugh, and the joke of the haunted chamber has been enjoyed.
