It was written in 1908, when Lovecraft was 17 or 18, and first published in the November 1916 issue of the United Amateur.

[1] The story is a first person account narrated by Count Antoine de C. Hundreds of years ago, Antoine's noble ancestor was responsible for the death of a dark wizard, Michel Mauvais.

The wizard's son, Charles le Sorcier, swore revenge on not only him but all his descendants, cursing them to die upon reaching the age of 32.

Count Antoine recounts how his ancestors all died in some mysterious way around the age of 32.

Just as he turns to leave, he hears a noise behind him and sees that the door is open and someone is standing in it.