HPL Dictionary Corner: some lurking doubts

From 'The Hound': "pelf"

Our graverobbing narrator explains, "Immediately upon beholding this amulet we knew that we must possess it; that this treasure alone was our logical pelf from the centuried grave". Which makes sense as it means "money (archaic) especially if gained in a dishonest way".

'The Lurking Fear' gives us the description of "Charonian shadows". A very literal description just means 'of/pertaining to Charon' so I had to look up Charon: he is the ferryman of Greek legend who carries souls across the River Styx in the Underworld. The 'Charonian staircase' is a stage prop apparently used to have actors rise up as if from that very Underworld. So... dark, lurking (appropriately), suggestively indistinct and rising up from the depths of hell... ooh it gives you chills!

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