This greatly surprised us; but after a short conference we knocked.
The door was presently opened by a servant, dressed as a modern
indoor footman usually is, who civilly asked us to walk in. On
entering we found the place altogether different from what we expected
to find, and had found on our daylight visit. It was brightly lighted,
had decorated walls, pretty ornaments, carpets, and every kind of
modern garnishment, and, in short, bore all the appearance of an
ordinary well-appointed private "flat." While we stood in the corridor,
astonished, a gentleman in evening dress advanced towards us from
one of the reception rooms. As he looked interrogatively at us,
we thought it best to explain the intrusion, adding that we presumed
we had either entered the wrong house, or stopped at the wrong apartment.

He laughed pleasantly at our tale, and said, "I don't know anything
about haunted rooms, and, in fact, don't believe in anything of the
kind. As for these rooms, they have for a long time been let for
two or three nights every week to our Society for the purpose of
social reunion. We are members of a musical and literary association,
and are in the habit of holding conversaziones in these rooms on
certain evenings, during which we entertain ourselves with dancing,
singing, charades, and literary gossip. The rooms are spacious and
lofty, and exactly adapted to our requirements. As you are here,
I may say, in the name of the rest of the members, that we shall
be happy if you will join us." At this I glanced at our dresses
in some confusion, which being observed by the gentleman, he hastened
to say: "You need be under no anxiety about your appearance, for
this is a costume night, and the greater number of our guests are
in travesty." As he spoke he threw open the door of a large
drawing-room and invited us in. On entering we found a company of
men and women, well-dressed, some in ordinary evening attire and