In a labyrinth of boardinghouses on the West Side, a young man searches tirelessly for a vacant room. His quest leads him to try door after door on a brownstone street, until finally, on his twelfth attempt, he finds Mrs. Purdy. She is an unimpressive housekeeper who offers him the chance to inspect a recently vacated room. This discovery brings a flicker of hope after many rejections, and he follows her through an atmosphere of stale and unpleasant air, matching the pervasive gloom outside.

Mrs. Purdy’s Persuasive Selling

Mrs. Purdy is an expert at highlighting the room's positive features. With relentless chatter, she draws attention to a well-placed dresser, sturdy chairs, and tables, ample closet space, and convenient gas connections. She boasts of the room's former tenants, a respectable vaudeville duo named Sprowls and Mooney, suggesting a certain class associated with the room, especially important given the proximity to the theater district, known for its transient crowd. Despite the young man's lack of enthusiasm, her convincing pitch leads him to secure the room and hand over his money.

Haunting Memories of Eloise

Before Mrs. Purdy departs, the young man asks a question that he's posed repeatedly in recent days: has she ever rented to a Miss Eloise Vashner, an aspiring singer? His description—a slight, fair girl with a distinctive mole near her left eyebrow—receives a negative response. Left alone, he reflects on his five-month search, chasing his love Eloise, who vanished into the city's theatrical allure. Like many small-town dreamers, she sought the spotlight and was swallowed by the city's relentless pace. Yet, he senses her presence, as though she lingers invisibly nearby.

A Room Filled with Shadows

The young man sits, despondent, in a chair surrounded by faded furniture and worn-out decor. The room reeks of mildew and decay, with chipped furniture and a mirror marred by scratches. The couch is misshapen and the mantel damaged, the room itself bearing an air of past violence. The walls carry smudged fingerprints and unsightly stains, while the noise outside—a cacophony of daily life—adds to the oppressive atmosphere. Isolated, he listens to the din of the city, a harsh symphony of clamor echoing his own internal despair.

The Scent of Mignonette

Suddenly, the room becomes infused with a familiar fragrance: mignonette. Startled, he speaks to the space around him, believing Eloise calls him to action. Enveloped by a dreamy vision, he frantically searches the room, convinced she is near. He feverishly rummages through drawers and corners, like a detective closing in on a clue. Though he finds only inconsequential items—a torn handkerchief, an old theater playbill, some buttons, a pawn ticket—they suggest her presence, fueling his belief she is close.

A Desperate Inquiry

He confronts Mrs. Purdy, struggling to contain his fervor, demanding information about any recent female boarders. Calm and composed, she recounts details: Miss Sprowls was stout and Missis Mooney was her true identity; Missis Crowder was accompanied by her children. Other boarders, she notes sadly, were men. Defeated and disillusioned, he returns to the room, now void of the sweet mignonette fragrance. Hope drained, he resolves on a grim course, cutting up sheets to block airways, extinguishing the gaslight, and turning the gas jet back on to meet death in a final embrace.

The Landladies’ Secret

Meanwhile, downstairs, Mrs. Purdy and her friend Mrs. McCool share a private conversation. Mrs. Purdy proudly discusses renting the room where a "pretty slip of a colleen" ended her life just last week. They agree on the necessity of keeping such events quiet to avoid deterring potential tenants. Mrs. Purdy reflects on the tragedy, noting how pretty the girl was—except for the mole near her eyebrow.