Heburrowedincrevicesandcorners,andfoundcorksandcigarettes.Thesehepassedinpassivecontempt. Butoncehefoundinafoldofthemattingahalf-smokedcigar,andthishegroundbeneathhisheelwithagreenandtrenchantoath. Hesiftedtheroomfromendtoend.Hefounddrearyandignoblesmallrecordsofmanyaperipatetictenant; butofherwhomhesought,andwhomayhavelodgedthere,andwhosespiritseemedtohoverthere,hefoundnotrace. Andthenhethoughtofthehousekeeper. Heranfromthehauntedroomdownstairsandtoadoorthatshowedacrackoflight.Shecameouttohisknock.Hesmotheredhisexcitementasbesthecould. "Willyoutellme,madam,"hebesoughther,"whooccupiedtheroomIhavebeforeIcame?" "Yes,sir.Icantellyouagain.'TwasSprowlsandMooney,asIsaid.MissB'rettaSprowlsitwasinthetheatres,butMissisMooneyshewas. Myhouseiswellknownforrespectability.Themarriagecertificatehung,framed,onanailover--" "WhatkindofaladywasMissSprowls--inlooks,Imean?" Why,black-haired,sir,short,andstout,withacomicalface.TheyleftaweekagoTuesday." "Andbeforetheyoccupiedit?" "Why,therewasasinglegentlemanconnectedwiththedrayingbusiness.Heleftowingmeaweek.BeforehimwasMissisCrowderandhertwochildren,thatstayedfourmonths;andbackofthemwasoldMr.Doyle,whosesonspaidforhim.Hekepttheroomsixmonths.Thatgoesbackayear,sir,andfurtherIdonotremember." Hethankedherandcreptbacktohisroom.Theroomwasdead. Theessencethathadvivifieditwasgone.Theperfumeofmignonettehaddeparted.Initsplacewastheold,staleodourofmouldyhousefurniture,ofatmosphereinstorage. Theebbingofhishopedrainedhisfaith.Hesatstaringattheyellow,singinggaslight. Soonhewalkedtothebedandbegantotearthesheetsintostrips. Withthebladeofhisknifehedrovethemtightlyintoeverycrevicearoundwindowsanddoor. Whenallwassnugandtautheturnedoutthelight,turnedthegasfullonagainandlaidhimselfgratefullyuponthebed. ItwasMrs.McCool'snighttogowiththecanforbeer.SoshefetcheditandsatwithMrs. Purdyinoneofthosesubterraneanretreatswherehouse-keepersforegatherandthewormdiethseldom. "Irentedoutmythirdfloor,back,thisevening,"saidMrs.Purdy,acrossafinecircleoffoam."Ayoungmantookit.Hewentuptobedtwohoursago." "Now,didye,Mrs.Purdy,ma'am?"saidMrs.McCool,withintenseadmiration. "Youdobeawonderforrentin'roomsofthatkind.Anddidyetellhim,then?"sheconcludedinahuskywhisper,ladenwithmystery. "Rooms,"saidMrs.Purdy,inherfurriesttones,"arefurnishedfortorent.Ididnottellhim,Mrs.McCool." "'Tisrightyeare,ma'am;'tisbyrentingroomswekapealive.Yehavetheralesenseforbusiness,ma'am.Therebemanypeoplewillrayjicttherentin'ofaroomiftheybetouldasuicidehasbeenafterdyin'inthebedofit." "Asyousay,wehasourlivingtobemaking,"remarkedMrs.Purdy. "Yis,ma'am;'tistrue.'TisjustonewakeagothisdayIhelpedyelayoutthethirdfloor,back.Aprettyslipofacolleenshewastobekillin'herselfwidthegas--aswatelittlefaceshehad,Mrs.Purdy,ma'am." "She'da-beencalledhandsome,asyousay,"saidMrs.Purdy,assentingbutcritical,"butforthatmoleshehada-growin'byherlefteyebrow.Dofillupyourglassagain,Mrs.McCool." 
