We were further informed by the people of the town that in order to visit the rooms at night it was necessary to wear a special costume, and that without it we should have no chance whatever of issuing from them alive.  This costume was of black and white, and each of us was to carry a black stave.  So we put on this attire,—­which somewhat resembled the garb of an ecclesiastical order,—­and when the appointed time came, repaired to the haunted house, where, after toiling up the great staircase in the darkness, we reached the door of the haunted apartments to find it closed.  But light was plainly visible beneath it, and within was the sound of voices.  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 some costumed.  The room was brilliantly lighted and beautifully furnished and decorated.  At one end was a grand piano, round which several persons were grouped; others were seated on ottomans taking tea or coffee; and others strolled about, talking.  Our host, who appeared to be master of the ceremonies, introduced us to several persons, and we soon became deeply interested in a conversation on literary subjects.  So the evening wore on pleasantly, but I never ceased to wonder how we could have mistaken the house or the staircase after the precaution we had taken of visiting it in the daytime in order to avoid the possibility of error.