{"id":"01KG8AJN5MM0AE05S66NQSBYYJ","cid":"bafkreiapcunac6d76oj4xr5eohuq4c3nyxdogr2idptcvto3ludkel2njq","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# Letter from Hiram Scribe\n## Overview\nThis 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.\n\n## Context\nThe 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)\".\n\n## Contents\nThe 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","label":"Letter from Hiram Scribe","source_file":"01KG89J1H4TA19251AXAPE3ZWC","start_line":778,"text":"no correspondents except Solomon, with whom, in his sentiments, at\r\nleast, I entirely correspond, the note occasioned me some little\r\nsurprise, which was not diminished upon reading the following:—\r\n\r\nNEW PETRA, April 1st.\r\n\r\n\r\nSIR—During my last examination of your chimney, possibly you may have\r\nnoted that I frequently applied my rule to it in a manner apparently\r\nunnecessary. Possibly also, at the same time, you might have observed\r\nin me more or less of perplexity, to which, however, I refrained from\r\ngiving any verbal expression.\r\n\r\nI now feel it obligatory upon me to inform you of what was then but a\r\ndim suspicion, and as such would have been unwise to give utterance to,\r\nbut which now, from various subsequent calculations assuming no little\r\nprobability, it may be important that you should not remain in further\r\nignorance of.\r\n\r\nIt is my solemn duty to warn you, sir, that there is architectural\r\ncause to conjecture that somewhere concealed in your chimney is a\r\nreserved space, hermetically closed, in short, a secret chamber, or\r\nrather closet. How long it has been there, it is for me impossible to\r\nsay. What it contains is hid, with itself, in darkness. But probably a\r\nsecret closet would not have been contrived except for some\r\nextraordinary object, whether for the concealment of treasure, or what\r\nother purpose, may be left to those better acquainted with the history\r\nof the house to guess.\r\n\r\nBut enough: in making this disclosure, sir, my conscience is eased.\r\nWhatever step you choose to take upon it, is of course a matter of\r\nindifference to me; though, I confess, as respects the character of the\r\ncloset, I cannot but share in a natural curiosity. Trusting that you\r\nmay be guided aright, in determining whether it is Christian-like\r\nknowingly to reside in a house, hidden in which is a secret closet,\r\n\r\n\r\nI remain,\r\nWith much respect,\r\nYours very humbly,\r\nHIRAM SCRIBE.\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Letter from Hiram Scribe"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ72QDX8N8STJ3550X2NW","peer_type":"short_story","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H4TA19251AXAPE3ZWC","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJN53Q1X8PHNBQ0T8VY1D","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJN5H1NWWVH9BNA0RDQW8","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:38.676Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:02.000Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}