wasperhapsforgotten-ownerdead，perhaps？Afterthinkingitover，afewdays，inthecourseofwhichhecouldpumpnothingoutofLyonsInnaboutthefurniture，hebecamedesperate，andresolvedtoborrowthattable。Hedidso，thatnight。Hehadnothadthetablelong，whenhedeterminedtoborrowaneasy-chair；hehadnothadthatlong，whenhemadeuphismindtoborrowabookcase；then，acouch；then，acarpetandrug。Bythattime，hefelthewas’infurnituresteppedinsofar，’asthatitcouldbenoworsetoborrowitall。Consequently，heborroweditall，andlockedupthecellarforgood。Hehadalwayslockedit，aftereveryvisit。Hehadcarriedupeveryseparatearticleinthedeadofthenight，and，atthebest，hadfeltaswickedasaResurrectionMan。Everyarticlewasblueandfurrywhenbroughtintohisrooms，andhehadhad，inamurderousandguiltysortofway，topolishitupwhileLondonslept。
Mr。Testatorlivedinhisfurnishedchamberstwoorthreeyears，ormore，andgraduallylulledhimselfintotheopinionthatthefurniturewashisown。Thiswashisconvenientstateofmindwhen，lateonenight，astepcameupthestairs，andahandpassedoverhisdoorfeelingforhisknocker，andthenonedeepandsolemnrapwasrappedthatmighthavebeenaspringinMr。Testator’seasy-
chairtoshoothimoutofit；sopromptlywasitattendedwiththateffect。
Withacandleinhishand，Mr。Testatorwenttothedoor，andfoundthere，averypaleandverytallman；amanwhostooped；amanwithveryhighshoulders，averynarrowchest，andaveryrednose；ashabby-genteelman。Hewaswrappedinalongthread-bareblackcoat，fastenedupthefrontwithmorepinsthanbuttons，andunderhisarmhesqueezedanumbrellawithoutahandle，asifhewereplayingbagpipes。Hesaid，’Iaskyourpardon，butcanyoutellme-’andstopped；hiseyesrestingonsomeobjectwithinthechambers。
’CanItellyouwhat？’askedMr。Testator，notinghisstoppagewithquickalarm。