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- 2993
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T07:57:45.581Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 2947
- text
- At last, smoking my pipe one morning, I heard a rap at the door, and
my wife, with an air unusually quiet for her brought me a note. As I
have no correspondents except Solomon, with whom in his sentiments,
at least, I entirely correspond, the note occasioned me some little
surprise, which was not dismissed upon reading the following:--
NEW PETRA, April 1st.
SIR--During my last examination of your chimney, possibly you may have
noted that I frequently applied my rule to it in a manner apparently
unnecessary. Possibly, also, at the same time, you might have observed
in me more or less of perplexity, to which, however, I refrained from
giving any verbal expression.
I now feel it obligatory upon me to inform you of what was then but a
dim suspicion, and as such would have been unwise to give utterance
to, but which now, from various subsequent calculations assuming no
little probability, it may be important that you should not remain in
further ignorance of.
It is my solemn duty to warn you, sir, that there is architectural
cause to conjecture that somewhere concealed in your chimney is a
reserved space, hermetically closed, in short, a secret chamber, or
rather closet. How long it has been there, it is for me impossible
to say. What it contains is hid, with itself, in darkness. But
probably a secret closet would not have been contrived except for some
extraordinary object, whether for the concealment of treasure, or for
what other purpose, may be left to those better acquainted with the
history of the house to guess.
But enough: in making this disclosure, sir, my conscience is eased.
Whatever step you choose to take upon it, is of course a matter of
indifference to me; though, I confess, as respects the character of
the closet, I cannot but share in a natural curiosity.
Trusting that you may be guided aright, in determining whether it is
Christian-like knowingly to reside in a house, hidden in which is a
secret closet,
I remain,
With much respect,
Yours very humbly,
HIRAM SCRIBE.
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