 Good evening. Tonight is the second night of the 2021 scary stories reading and in a few minutes I'm going to start reading one of my favorite favorite creepy ghost stories Now in the meantime, we'll give you a few minutes to climb on in sit down get comfy Pull up a chair turn out the lights and get ready to listen But I'll give people a few memories to do this I'm going to share this with a few different parts in social media Gotta bother the people on Twitter. I have to hit up my good friends on Facebook and even on LinkedIn Let's see how they respond. In the meantime, how are you all doing? I hope you're all safe and sound I hope the season is treating you well. I Hope you're all comfortable Yet ready to get made a little nervous To be a little creeped out while I go if you'd like to say something in the chat, please feel free The chat is there for you now To get things rolling a few words, what's nice story Emperor James was a British academic who on the side and purely for his unentertainment Wrote some of the best short stories in the ghost story vein in the English language These are notable for being partly funny very satirical, especially of Cambridge Don's But also very creepy in a delicate way where the story builds up meticulously until the Creepy horror is hinted at just very very gently But tonight's example is one that I'm very fond of for a lot of reasons and one is that it's partly about multimedia And this is a little story from 1904 from his first great collection ghost stories of antiquity Called the Met's intent some time ago I believe I had the pleasure of telling you the story of an adventure which happened to a friend of mine By the name of Dennis Dune during his pursuit of objects of art for the museum at Cambridge He did not publish his experiences very widely upon his return to England But they could not fail to become known to a good many of his friends and among others to the gentleman who at that time presided over an art museum at Another university it was to be expected that the story should make a considerable Impression on the mind of a man his vocation lay in lines similar to Dennis Dune's Now he should be eager to catch any explanation of the matter which tended to make it seem improbable They should ever be called upon to deal with so agitating an emergency It was indeed somewhat consoling to him to reflect that he was not expected to acquire ancient manuscripts for his institution That was the business of the Shelburne and library The authorities at that institution might as they pleased ran sec obscure cores the continent for such matters He was glad to be obliged the moment to confine his attention to enlarging the already unsurpassed Collection of English topographical drawings and engravings possessed by his museum Yet as it turned out even a department so homely and familiar as this may have its dark corners And to one of those mr. Williams was unexpectedly introduced Those who have taken even the most limited interest in the acquisition of topographical pictures are aware There is one London dealer whose aid is indispensable to their research is mr. JW Brittnell publishes its short intervals very admirable catalogs of a large and constantly changing stock of engravings plans and old sketches of Mansions churches and towns in England in Wales These catalogs were of course the ABC of his subject to mr. Williams But as his museum already contained an enormous accumulation of topographical pictures He was a regular rather than a copious buyer And he rather looked mr. Brittnell to fill out gaps in the rank and file of his collection than to supply him with varieties Now in February of last year there appeared upon mr. Williams desk at the museum a catalog of mr. Brittnell's Emporium and accompanying it was a type written communication from a dealer himself The latter ran as follows Dear sir, we beg to call your attention a number of 978 in our accompanying catalog Which will she be glad to send on approval. You are as faithfully JW Brittnell To turn to number 978 the accompanying catalog was with mr. Williams as he served to himself The work of a moment in a place indicated. He found the following entry 978 unknown interesting mezzo tint view of a manor house early part of the century 15 by 10 inches black frame two pounds two shillings It was not especially exciting and the price seemed high However, as mr. Brittnell who know his business and his customers seem to set store by it Mr. Williams wrote a postcard asking for the article to be sent on approval along with some other engravings and sketches Which appeared in the same catalog and so he passed without much excitement of anticipation to the ordinary laborers of the day a Parcel of any kind always arrives a day later than you expected and that a mr. Brittnell approved as I believe the right phrase goes no exception to the rule It was delivered at the museum by the afternoon post of Sunday Saturday after mr. Williams and left his work and it was accordingly brought round to his rooms in college by the attendant in Order that he might not have to wait over Sunday before looking through it and returning such of the contents as he did not propose to keep And here he found it when it came in the tea with a friend The only item which I am concerned was the rather large black frame that's a tint of which I have already quoted the short description Give the mr. Brittnell's catalog Some more details it will have to be given but cannot hope to put before you the look of the picture as Clearly as it is present to my own eye Very nearly the exact duplicative that may be seen in a good many old-in parlors or in the passages of undisturbed Country mansions at the present moment It was a rather indifferent mezzotint and an indifferent mezzotint is perhaps the worst form of engraving No, you presented a full-faced view of a not very large manor house of the last century With three rows of plain sashed windows with rusticated masonry about them a parapet with balls or balls or vases at the angles and a small portico in the center On either side were trees and a front a considerable expanse of lawn the legend AWF sculpts it was engraved in the narrow margin and there was no The whole thing gave the impression that it was the work of an amateur What in the world mr. Brittnell could mean by affixing the price of two pounds to be shillings There's such an object as more than mr. Williams could imagine He turned it over with a good deal of contempt upon the back was a paper label the left hand half of which had been torn off All that remained were the ends of two lines of writing the first of the letters Inley Hall and the second Sussex Or just sex it would perhaps be just worthwhile to identify the place represented Which he could easily do the help of a gazetteer and he would send it back to mr. Brittnell with some marks reflecting upon the judgment of that gentleman He lighted the candles for now. It was dark made the tea and supplied the friend with whom he'd been playing golf For I believe the authorities of the University. I write of indulge in that pursuit by way of relaxation and Tea was taken to the accompaniment of discussion which Golfing persons can imagine for themselves, but which the conscientious writer has no right to inflict upon any non golfing persons The conclusion arrived at was that certain strokes may have been better than certain emergencies Not our player had experienced that amount of luck which a human being had a right to expect He was now the friend. Let us call him professor banks took up the afframed engraving and said What is this place Williams? Just what I'm going to try to find out said Williams going to the chauffeur gazetteer Look at the back something Lee Hall either in Sussex or Essex half the names gone You see you don't happen to know what I suppose it's from that man Britain. Oh, I suppose isn't it said banks? Is it for the museum? Well, I think I should buy it if the price was five shillings said Williams But for some honorific reason he wants two guineas for it. I can't conceive why it's a wretched engraving There aren't any even figures to give it life That's not worth two guineas. I should think said Berks banks But I don't think it's so badly done the moonlight seems rather good to me And I should have thought there were figures or at least a figure just on the edge in front Let's look to Williams. Well, it's true. The light is rather cleverly given. Where's your figure? Oh, yes, you're just the head in the very front of the picture and indeed there was Hardly more than a black dot on the extreme edge of the engraving the head of a man or a woman a good deal muffled up The back turned the spectator and looking towards the house Williams had not noticed it before Still he said though, it's a cleverer thing that I thought I can't spend two guineas a museum money on a picture of a place I don't know Professor Binks had his work to do and soon went and very nearly up to whole time Williams was engaged in a vain attempt to identify the subject of the picture If the vowel before the NG had only been left it would have been easy enough He thought but as it is the name of the anything from guesting lead a line Lee And there are many more names ending like this than I thought and this rotten book has no index of terminations Hole in Mr. Williams college was at seven It need not be dwelt upon the less so as he met their colleagues who have been playing golf during the afternoon And words of which we have no concern. We're freely bandied across the table merely golfing words. I should hasten to explain I suppose an hour or more to have been spent in what is called common room after dinner Later in the evening some few retired to Williams room And I have little doubt that whisk was played in tobacco smoked during a loan those operations Williams picked up the message in from the table without looking at it and had lit to a person mildly interested in art Telling him where to come from the other particulars, which we already know The gentleman took it carelessly looked at it and then said in a tone of some interest It's really a good piece of work Williams. It has quite a feeling of the romantic period The light is admirably managed It seems to me and that figure though. It's rather too grotesque is somehow very impressive Yes, isn't it to the Williams who was just then busy giving whiskey and soda to what others the company It was unable to come across the room look at the view again It was by this time rather late in the evening and the visitors around the move after they went Williams was obliged to write a letter or two And clear up some odd bits of work at last sometime before past midnight He was disposed to turn in he put out his lamp after lighting his bedroom candle The picture lay face upwards in the table with the last man who looked at it put it and it called his eye as he turned lamp down What he saw made him very nearly drop the candle on the floor and he declares now that if you've been left in the dark at that Moment he would have had a fit But as that did not happen. He was able to put down the light in the table and take a good look at the picture It was indubitable Rankly impossible no doubt, but absolutely certain in the middle of the lawn in front of the unknown house There was a figure where no figure had been five o'clock that afternoon It was crawling on all fours towards the house And it was muffled in a strange black garment with a white cross on the back I do not know what is the ideal course to pursue a situation of this kind You can only tell you what mr. Williams did He took the picture by one corner and carried it across the passage to a second set of rooms Which he possessed there he locked it up in a drawer Sported the doors of both sets of rooms and retired a bit But first he wrote out and signed an account of the extraordinary change which the picture had undergone since it came into his possession Sleep visited him rather late. It was consoling to reflect the behavior of the picture did not depend upon his own unsupported testimony Evidently the man who looked at it the night before had seen something of the same kind as he had Otherwise you might be tempted to think that something gravely wrong was happening either to his eyes or his mind This possibility being fortunately precluded two matters awaited him on the morrow He must take stock of the picture very carefully and call no witness for the purpose and He must make a determined effort to ascertain what house it was that was represented He would therefore ask his neighbor nizbet to breakfast with him and he would subsequently spend a morning over the gaze of tear Nizbet was disengaged and arrived around 9 30 his house was his host was not quite dressed I'm sorry to say even at that late hour during breakfast Nothing was said about the mess attempt by Williams say that he had a picture on which he wished for nizbet's opinion But those who are familiar with the University of life can picture for themselves the wide and delightful range of subjects Over which the two fellows of Canterbury College is likely to extend during a Sunday morning breakfast Are they topics left unchallenged from golf to long tennis? They're bound to say that Williams is rather distraught for his interest naturally centered in that very strange picture Which is now reposing face downwards in the drawer in the room opposite The morning pipe was at last lighted and the morning and the moment had arrived which he looked well Very considerable almost tremulous excitement He ran across Unlock the drawer and extracting the picture still face downward ran back and put it into nizbet's hand Now he said nizbet. I want you to tell me exactly what you see in that picture Describe it if you don't mind rather minutely. I'll tell you why afterwards Well said nizbet. I have your view of a country house English I presume by moonlight moonlight. You're sure of that Oh, certainly the moon appears to be on the wane if you wish for details and there are clouds in the sky Alright go on. I'll swear I did Williams as in the side. There was no moon when I saw it first Well, there's not much more to be said nizbet continued bass has one two three rows of windows Five in each row except to the bottom where there's a porch instead of the middle one and what about figures past Williams With market interest well, there aren't any I said nizbet But what no figure in the grass in front not a thing. You'll swear to that Certainly, I will but there's just one other thing. But why one of the windows on the ground floor Left of the door is open. Is it really so my goodness? He must have got in said Williams with great excitement And he hurried to the back of the sofa which nizbet was sitting and catching the picture from him verify the matter for himself It was quite true. There was no figure and there was the open window Williams after a moment of speechless surprise went to the writing table and scribbled for a long time Then he brought two papers to nizbet asked him first to sign one It was his own description of the picture which you've just heard and then to read the other which is Williams a statement about the night before What can it all mean said nizbet exactly said Williams? Well, one thing I must do or three things now that I think of it I must found from Garwood. This was his last night's visitor What he saw that I must get the thing photographed before it goes further that I must find out what the place is Oh, I can do a photographing myself said nizbet and I will but you know It looks very much as if we were assisting at the working out of a tragedy somewhere The question is has it happened already or is it going to come off? You must find out what the place is Yes, he said looking at the picture again. I expect you're right. He has got him If I don't mistake, there'd be the devil to pay one of the rooms upstairs I'll tell you what said Williams. I'll take the picture across old green This is the senior fellow of the college who've been bursar for many years. It's quite likely. He'll know it We have property now six and saw sex they must have been over the two counties a lot in his time Quite likely he will sit nizbet, but just let me take my photograph first But look here. I rather think green isn't up today. He wasn't in a haul less than I think he said he was going down for Sunday, and that's true, too. So Williams. I know he's gone to Brighton Well, if you'll photograph it now I'll go across to Garwood and get his statement and you keep an eye on what I'm gone I'm beginning to think two guineas is not a very exorbitant price for it now You know short time he had returned and brought Mr. Garwood with him Garwood statement was to the effect of the figure when he had seen it was clear of the edge of the picture I had not grown across the lawn He remembered a white mark on the back of its drapery, but he could not be sure it was a cross Document to this effect was drawn up and signed in his bed proceed to photograph the picture Now what do you mean to do? He said are you gonna sit and watch it all day? Well, no, I think not siblings I'd rather imagine we're meant to see the whole thing You see between the time I saw it last night and this morning there was time for lots of things to happen But the creature only got into the house You could easily have got through its business in the time and gone to its own place again But the fact of the window being open I think must mean it's in there now So I feel quite easy about leaving it and besides I have a kind of idea It won't change much if at all in a daytime We might go out for a walk this afternoon and come into tea or whenever it gets dark I shall leave it out on the table here and sport the door my skip can get in but no one else The three agreed this would be a good plan and further if he spent the afternoon together There'd be less to talk about the business to other people for any rumor such a transaction as what's going on would bring the whole Lafazmatological society about their ears We may give them a respite until five o'clock At or near the hour the three were entering William staircase They were first slightly annoyed to see the door of his rooms was unsported But in a moment he was remembered that on Sunday the skips came for orders and hours so earlier than a week Days however a surprise was awaiting them The first thing they saw was the picture leading up against a pile of books in the table as it had been left and the next was William skip Seated in a chair opposite gazing at it with undisguised horror How was this? Mr. Filtcher the name is not my own invention was a servant of considerable standing and set the standard of etiquette To all his own college into several neighboring ones and nothing to be more alien to his practice than he found sitting on his master's chair We're appearing to take any particular notice of his master's furniture or pictures Indeed he seemed to feel this himself He started vying on him the three men were in the room and got up with a marked effort Then he said I asked her pardon sir for taking such a freedom as to set down not at all Robert and opposed Mr. Williams I was mean to ask you for some time what you thought of that picture Well, sir, of course, I don't set up my opinion against yours, but ain't the picture I should hang up where my little girl could see it sir. Wouldn't you rubber? Why not? No, sir. Why the poor child I recollect once she saw a doer Bible with pictures Not half what that is and we add this up with her for three or four nights afterwards if you believe me And she was just catch a sight of the skeleton in here whatever it is carrying off the poor baby She'd be in for taking you know how it is with children our nervous They get for the little thing at all which I say it don't seem a right picture to be laying about sir Not where anyone that's liable to be startled could come on it. She'd be wanting anything this evening, sir Thank you, sir With these words the excellent man went to continue the round of his masters And you may be sure the gentleman whom he left lost no time in gathering around the engraving There was the house as before under the waning moon the drifting clouds the window That had been open was shot and the figure was once more on the lawn But not this time crawling cautiously out of hands and knees now It was erect and stepping swiftly with long strides towards the front of the picture The moon was behind it and the black drapery hung down over its face so that only hints of that could be seen And what was visible may the spectator is profoundly thankful that they could see no more than a white dome like Farhead and a few straggling hairs The head was bent down and the arms were tightly clasped over an object Which could be dimly seen and identified as a child whether dead or living. He was not possible to say The legs of the appearance alone could be plainly discerned and they were horribly thin From five to seven the three companions sat and watched the picture by turns, but it never changed They agreed at last that it would be safe to leave it. They would return after a haul of a wait for the developments When they assembled again at the earliest possible moment the engraving was there But the figure was gone and the house was quiet under the moonbeams There was nothing for it to spend the evening over gaze at tears and guidebooks Williams was the lucky one at last and perhaps he deserved it at 11 40 p.m. He read from Murray's guide to Essex the following lines 16 and a half miles Anningly the church had been an interesting building of Norman date But it was extensively classicized in the last century It contains the tomb of the family of Francis whose mansion Anningly Hall a solid Queen Anne house Sends immediately beyond the churchyard in the park of about 80 acres The family is now extinct the last air having disappeared mysteriously in infancy in the year 1802 The father mr. Arthur Francis was locally known as a talented and amateur engraver in Mezzotin After his son's disappearance He lived in complete retirement in the hall and was found dead in his studio I'm the third anniversary of the disaster having just completed an engraving of the house Impressions of which are a considerable rarity This look like business and indeed mr. Green on his return at once identified the house was Anningly Hall Is there any kind of explanation for the figure green was a question which Williams naturally asked I Don't know. I'm sure Williams What used to be said in the place when I first knew it which was before I came up here was just this Old Francis is always very much down on those poaching fellows And whenever he got a chance used to get a man whom he suspected of it turned off the estate and by degrees He got rid of them all but one Squires could do a lot of things then that they dare and think of now Well, this man that was left was what you find pretty often the country the last remains of a very old family I believe there were Lords of the Mounder at one time. I recollect just the same thing in my own parish Well, like the man on tests of the doobie reels Williams put in yes, I dare say it's not a book I could ever read myself But this fellow could show row tombs in the church there that belonged to his ancestors And all that went to sour him a bit, but Francis they said could never get at him He always kept just on the right side of the law until one night the keeper has found him at it in a wood Right at the end of the estate. I could show you the place now It marches with some land that used to be to an uncle of mine And you can imagine there was a row and this man gaudy. That was a name to be sure gaudy I thought I should get it gaudy. He was unlucky enough for a chap to shoot a keeper Well, that was a Francis wanted and grand juries You know what they would have been then and poor God He was strung up a double quick time and I've been shown the place who was buried in the north side of the church You know the way in that part of the world anyone's been hanged or made away with themselves They bury them at that side and the idea that there was some friend of God He's not a relation because he had none poor devil He was last of his line kind of spes ultimagentus must have planned to get hold of Francis his boy and put an end to his Lining too. I don't know. It's a rather out of the way thing for as exposure to think of but you know I should see it looks more as if old gaudy had managed the job himself Oh, I hate to think of it. Have some whiskey Williams The facts are communicated by Williams Deniston and by him to a mixed company of which I was one And the side you're saying professor o theology another I'm sorry to say the latter when asked what he thought of it only remarked Ah, those bridgeford people will say anything the sentiment which met with the reception it deserved I should only have to add the pictures now on the ashley and museum There has been treated to a view of discovering whether sympathetic ink had been used on it But without effect the mr. Britnell knew nothing of it say that he was sure was uncommon And that though carefully watched It has never been known to change again Oh, there's so much going on that story that I admire and I enjoy And partly is the the multimedia function of it that we it's a text based story But it's so carefully based on this work of art with its strange properties I love that that mixture of poking fun at these characters while also scaring them and scaring the reader too And there's this great thing that james always does of just barely hinting at the horror Just just living the outside of it so that we don't quite see the figure We get the moonlight. We get the gothic sense. We get the building We get the child, but we never quite know exactly what happened And you think if the child was living What happened to it after the figure took it? and just How old was that figure and what happened to it? It's one of those stories that succeeds by these hints and insinuations rather my outright right Wow That's a sample of mr. James for all of you to enjoy. I hope you liked it Please let me know in the comments what you thought If you'd like to add any suggestions for my next readings, please go ahead We've got quite a stack up ahead and I'd love to hear your thoughts In the meantime watch out for paintings and pictures to make sure they don't change on you or tell you stories that you might not appreciate Stay safe. Stay warm and cozy and we'll see you next time for scary stories Good night