OH.
I remember now why I’ve always loved RLS’s writing.
This short story is featured in Stephen Fry’s latest Ghost Stories book and I listened to it last night.
For a Victorian, RLS did not have verbal diarrhea.
I knew who the mysterious K was. Very bad man.
And the character of Fettes is wonderful. He always drinks 5 rums at these gathering but that particular night, after only 3 rums and the mention of a certain name – he sobers up in an instant and leaves his last 2 rums undrunk.
It’s almost as if you are there in the firelit, candlelit inn with these four friends when the “Airbnb” resident walks down those stairs.
Happy Halloween :o)
Uncontrolled Historian 