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Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent will clean it up in no
time；' and before the terrified housekeeper could interfere he had
fallen upon his knees； and was rapidly scouring the floor with a
small stick of what looked like a black cosmetic。 In a few moments
no trace of the blood…stain could be seen。
'I knew Pinkerton would do it；' he exclaimed triumphantly； as he
looked round at his admiring family； but no sooner had he said
these words than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the sombre
room； a fearful peal of thunder made them all start to their feet；
and Mrs。 Umney fainted。
'What a monstrous climate！' said the American Minister calmly； as
he lit a long cheroot。 'I guess the old country is so
overpopulated that they have not enough decent weather for
everybody。 I have always been of opinion that emigration is the
only thing for England。'
'My dear Hiram；' cried Mrs。 Otis； 'what can we do with a woman who
faints？'
'Charge it to her like breakages；' answered the Minister； 'she
won't faint after that'； and in a few moments Mrs。 Umney certainly
came to。 There was no doubt； however； that she was extremely
upset； and she sternly warned Mr。 Otis to beware of some trouble
coming to the house。
'I have seen things with my own eyes； sir；' she said； 'that would
make any Christian's hair stand on end； and many and many a night I
have not closed my eyes in sleep for the awful things that are done
here。' Mr。 Otis； however； and his wife warmly assured the honest
soul that they were not afraid of ghosts； and； after invoking the
blessings of Providence on her new master and mistress； and making
arrangements for an increase of salary； the old housekeeper
tottered off to her own room。
CHAPTER II
THE storm raged fiercely all that night； but nothing of particular
note occurred。 The next morning； however； when they came down to
breakfast； they found the terrible stain of blood once again on the
floor。 'I don't think it can be the fault of the Paragon
Detergent；' said Washington； 'for I have tried it with everything。
It must be the ghost。' He accordingly rubbed out the stain a
second time； but the second morning it appeared again。 The third
morning also it was there； though the library had been locked up at
night by Mr。 Otis himself； and the key carried upstairs。 The whole
family were now quite interested； Mr。 Otis began to suspect that he
had been too dogmatic in his denial of the existence of ghosts；
Mrs。 Otis expressed her intention of joining the Psychical Society；
and Washington prepared a long letter to Messrs。 Myers and Podmore
on the subject of the Permanence of Sanguineous Stains when
connected with Crime。 That night all doubts about the objective
existence of phantasmata were removed for ever。
The day had been warm and sunny； and； in the cool of the evening；
the whole family went out for a drive。 They did not return home
till nine o'clock； when they had a light supper。 The conversation
in no way turned upon ghosts； so there were not even those primary
conditions of receptive expectation which so often precede the
presentation of psychical phenomena。 The subjects discussed； as I
have since learned from Mr。 Otis； were merely such as form the
ordinary conversation of cultured Americans of the better class；
such as the immense superiority of Miss Fanny Davenport over Sarah
Bernhardt as an actress； the difficulty of obtaining green corn；
buckwheat cakes； and hominy； even in the best English houses； the
importance of Boston in the development of the world…soul； the
advantages of the baggage check system in railway travelling； and
the sweetness of the New York accent as compared to the London
drawl。 No mention at all was made of the supernatural； nor was Sir
Simon de Canterville alluded to in any way。 At eleven o'clock the
family retired； and by half…past all the lights were out。 Some
time after； Mr。 Otis was awakened by a curious noise in the
corridor； outside his room。 It sounded like the clank of metal；
and seemed to be coming nearer every moment。 He got up at once；
struck a match； and looked at the time。 It was exactly one
o'clock。 He was quite calm； and felt his pulse； which was not at
all feverish。 The strange noise still continued； and with it he
heard distinctly the sound of footsteps。 He put on his slippers；
took a small oblong phial out of his dressing…case； and opened the
door。 Right in front of him he saw； in the wan moonlight； an old
man of terrible aspect。 His eyes were as red burning coals； long
grey hair fell over his shoulders in matted coils； his garments；
which were of antique cut； were soiled and ragged； and from his
wrists and ankles hung heavy manacles and rusty gyves。
'My dear sir；' said Mr。 Otis； 'I really must insist on your oiling
those chains； and have brought you for that purpose a small bottle
of the Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator。 It is said to be completely
efficacious upon one application； and there are several
testimonials to that effect on the wrapper from some of our most
eminent native divines。 I shall leave it here for you by the
bedroom candles； and will be happy to supply you with more should
you require it。' With these words the United States Minister laid
the bottle down on a marble table； and； closing his door； retired
to rest。
For a moment the Canterville ghost stood quite motionless in
natural indignation； then； dashing the bottle violently upon the
polished floor； he fled down the corridor； uttering hollow groans；
and emitting a ghastly green light。 Just； however； as he reached
the top of the great oak staircase； a door was flung open； two
little white…robed figures appeared； and a large pillow whizzed
past his head！ There was evidently no time to be lost； so； hastily
adopting the Fourth Dimension of Space as a means of escape； he
vanished through the wainscoting； and the house became quite quiet。
On reaching a small secret chamber in the left wing； he leaned up
against a moonbeam to recover his breath； and began to try and
realise his position。 Never； in a brilliant and uninterrupted
career of three hundred years； had he been so grossly insulted。 He
thought of the Dowager Duchess； whom he had frightened into a fit
as she stood before the glass in her lace and diamonds； of the four
housemaids； who had gone off into hysterics when he merely grinned
at them through the curtains of one of the spare bedrooms； of the
rector of the parish； whose candle he had blown out as he was
coming late one night from the library； and who had been under the
care of Sir William Gull ever since； a perfect martyr to nervous
disorders； and of old Madame de Tremouillac； who； having wakened up
one morning early and seen a skeleton seated in an arm…chair by the
fire reading her diary； had been confined to her bed for six weeks
with an attack of brain fever； and； on her recovery； had become
reconciled to