EXPERIENCES OF A SURGEON. 571 



unravel the mystery, in place of fleeing and abandoning probably 

 some poor wretch to destruction. Thus manfully resolved, I laid 

 my cloak on the stair-rail, stepped down carefully, but, no longer 

 anxious to conceal my presence, made as much noise as possible. 

 I was now in the lobby : all was silent and deserted, when, after 

 standing a moment irresolute, the groan again issued from beneath 

 the stairs. I now remembered that there was a small closet under 

 these, containing chips and coals ; and beginning to hope it might, 

 after all, be the porter who had crept in there, and was groaning in 

 his sleep, I advanced, and opened the door leading into it slightly 

 ajar, at the same time keeping a firm hold on the handle. No sooner 

 had I done so, than a host of rats rushed through the narrow opening, 

 alarmed by the light: when the swarm had dispersed, I pushed the 

 door wider, but found I was opposed by a heavy body lying against 

 it ; sufficient room was, however, given to introduce the lantern. I 

 thrust it in another groan succeeded a dark body moved itself, and, 

 to my infinite terror, a bloody countenance stared at me with an 

 air of bewilderment quite equal to my own. I hastily closed the 

 door, and thinking some man must have been murdered by the 

 resurrectionists, and deposited here for security, and was now 

 struggling in the throes of dissolution, I resolved to call up the 

 porter ; and for this purpose I retreated to the outward door, and 

 with no very steady hand tried to unlock it : the lock was old, and 

 at all times troublesome to manage ; and it may be well supposed 

 that my present agitation was ill calculated to facilitate the attempt. 

 I turned the key this way and that way, in all the earnestness of 

 desperation, for T could plainly hear the cause of my anxiety making 

 efforts to rise, with the intention, doubtless, of escaping from his 

 hiding-place. After several heavy falls it succeeded on getting on its 

 feet, and with some fumbling found the latch ; and I had the ex- 

 quisite misery to hear a heavy foot planted in the lobby. 



I was now fairly at bay, and turned round to confront the '* dread 

 visitant." A large and powerful man was staggering towards me, 

 reeling and pitching from side to side, with matted hair, face covered 

 with blood, his dress dabbled with the same, and whitened by saw- 

 dust, on which he had been lying muttering unintelligibly, and 

 staring with an expression of fear and surprise. On he came, till 

 within a foot's distance, when he stretched out his arms to seize me : 

 I sprung aside he lost his balance, and fell heavily against the door, 

 and, after some vain struggles to save himself, he rolled on the floor. 

 This shock roused him, and, uttering an oath or two, he prepared to 

 rise again. I now spoke to him, and asked him, in the name of God, 

 who or what he was ! He looked at me a few seconds, and then 

 answered, " Why, I 'm Jack Scruff, to be sure ; and who the devil 

 are you?" " Why, you infernal villain ! how came you here, and 

 what 's the matter with you ? " " Damme, is that you, Parfleur ? why, 

 you are as white as a ghost." " How came you here, you scoundrel! 

 to frighten people out of their wits by groaning in the coal-hole at 

 this hour of the night? why, the rats have eaten half your face, and 

 served you right enough, though it has made you look like a spectre." 

 " Why, you see, Sir," said the fellow, shaking himself and sitting up, 



