- description
- # Letter from Hiram Scribe
## Overview
This segment, titled "Letter from Hiram Scribe," is a segment of text extracted from the short story "I and My Chimney." It comprises lines 778 through 820 of the source file.
## Context
The letter is part of the short story "[I and My Chimney](arke:01KG8AJ72QDX8N8STJ3550X2NW)," which is included in the "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" collection. This segment follows the "[Narrator's final resolve and wife's new, subtle tactic involving Mr. Scribe's residence](arke:01KG8AJN53Q1X8PHNBQ0T8VY1D)" and precedes the "[Narrator's Reflection on Kinsman and House History](arke:01KG8AJN5H1NWWVH9BNA0RDQW8)." The text was extracted from the file "[i_and_my_chimney.txt](arke:01KG89J1H4TA19251AXAPE3ZWC)".
## Contents
The segment contains a letter dated April 1st from New Petra, written by Hiram Scribe to the narrator. In the letter, Scribe informs the narrator of his suspicion, based on architectural examination of the narrator's chimney, that a secret chamber or closet is concealed within it. Scribe states that he feels it is his duty to warn the narrator of this discovery, suggesting that such a hidden space might have been created for the concealment of treasure or some other extraordinary purpose. He concludes by expressing a natural curiosity about the nature of the closet.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:01.790Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- Letter from Hiram Scribe
- end_line
- 820
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:36.358Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 778
- text
- no correspondents except Solomon, with whom, in his sentiments, at
least, I entirely correspond, the note occasioned me some little
surprise, which was not diminished 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 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.
- title
- Letter from Hiram Scribe