"What the demon does this mean? Who are you then?" as he jumped out of bed, relocked the door, struck a light and proceeded once more vainly to examine the room.
"Well, this is certainly the most inexplicable thing I ever knew in my life!" exclaimed John, with an intonation between astonishment and indignation.
"Oh! I really suppose you did not lock the door properly," replied Howard, getting up and going to ascertain the state of the case. And I heard him unlock and lock the door several times, and finally locking it fast, he said:
"There! now I will guarantee that it will stay shut!" and went back to his couch.
I do not think that more than fifteen minutes had passed before I heard, for the third time, their lock fly back and their door swing open.
"By Jupiter! This is past belief!" exclaimed Mr. Howard, while my brother, without speaking, jumped out of bed and struck a light.
They searched the room. They came out thence and searched the hall. They went up into the garret and searched the rooms over our heads. And, finding no one, they returned, wondering and conjecturing to their chamber, and for the third time that night fast locked their door.
"Take the key out, John," said Mr. Howard. And John withdrew the key and took it to bed with him.
About fifteen minutes more passed and then—"click!" flew the lock, open swung the door, and out of bed jumped John, in a state of mind between affright and rage.
"John, never mind! It is clear that the door will not remain closed; leave it open; to-morrow I will look at the lock and see what is amiss," said Mr. Howard.