u/Fabulous_Stranger590

Story about a man who makes a Faustian bargain - help required please

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for help trying to identify a (possibly) short story I read at school in the UK in the early 1990s please.

From what I can remember:

The main character was a struggling writer (or possibly another kind of artist).

The Devil lived in the basement flat below him.

The Devil was disguised as an ordinary man, possibly wearing a large overcoat.

They made some kind of deal or bargain.

The writer got what he wanted, but at the end the Devil came back to collect his soul.

I have a vague memory that a cat featured in the story as well.

I keep thinking the title might have been The Devil in the Flat, but I can’t find any trace of it online, so I may be remembering that part incorrectly.

I think I read it in a school anthology rather than as a standalone book.

Does this ring a bell with anyone? Any help greatly appreciated as this has been bugging me for years!

Thanks in advance

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u/Fabulous_Stranger590 — 8 days ago