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with an attack of brain fever； and； on her recovery； had become
reconciled to the Church； and broken off her connection with that
notorious sceptic Monsieur de Voltaire。 He remembered the terrible
night when the wicked Lord Canterville was found choking in his
dressing…room； with the knave of diamonds half…way down his throat；
and confessed； just before he died； that he had cheated Charles
James Fox out of 50；000 pounds at Crockford's by means of that very
card； and swore that the ghost had made him swallow it。 All his
great achievements came back to him again； from the butler who had
shot himself in the pantry because he had seen a green hand tapping
at the window pane； to the beautiful Lady Stutfield； who was always
obliged to wear a black velvet band round her throat to hide the
mark of five fingers burnt upon her white skin； and who drowned
herself at last in the carp…pond at the end of the King's Walk。
With the enthusiastic egotism of the true artist he went over his
most celebrated performances； and smiled bitterly to himself as he
recalled to mind his last appearance as 'Red Ruben； or the
Strangled Babe；' his DEBUT as 'Gaunt Gibeon； the Blood…sucker of
Bexley Moor；' and the FURORE he had excited one lovely June evening
by merely playing ninepins with his own bones upon the lawn…tennis
ground。 And after all this； some wretched modern Americans were to
come and offer him the Rising Sun Lubricator； and throw pillows at
his head！ It was quite unbearable。 Besides； no ghosts in history
had ever been treated in this manner。 Accordingly； he determined
to have vengeance； and remained till daylight in an attitude of
deep thought。
CHAPTER III
THE next morning when the Otis family met at breakfast； they
discussed the ghost at some length。 The United States Minister was
naturally a little annoyed to find that his present had not been
accepted。 'I have no wish；' he said； 'to do the ghost any personal
injury； and I must say that； considering the length of time he has
been in the house； I don't think it is at all polite to throw
pillows at him' … a very just remark； at which； I am sorry to say；
the twins burst into shouts of laughter。 'Upon the other hand；' he
continued； 'if he really declines to use the Rising Sun Lubricator；
we shall have to take his chains from him。 It would be quite
impossible to sleep； with such a noise going on outside the
bedrooms。'
For the rest of the week； however； they were undisturbed； the only
thing that excited any attention being the continual renewal of the
blood…stain on the library floor。 This certainly was very strange；
as the door was always locked at night by Mr。 Otis； and the windows
kept closely barred。 The chameleon…like colour； also； of the stain
excited a good deal of comment。 Some mornings it was a dull
（almost Indian） red； then it would be vermilion； then a rich
purple； and once when they came down for family prayers； according
to the simple rites of the Free American Reformed Episcopalian
Church； they found it a bright emerald…green。 These kaleidoscopic
changes naturally amused the party very much； and bets on the
subject were freely made every evening。 The only person who did
not enter into the joke was little Virginia； who； for some
unexplained reason； was always a good deal distressed at the sight
of the blood…stain； and very nearly cried the morning it was
emerald…green。
The second appearance of the ghost was on Sunday night。 Shortly
after they had gone to bed they were suddenly alarmed by a fearful
crash in the hall。 Rushing downstairs； they found that a large
suit of old armour had become detached from its stand； and had
fallen on the stone floor； while； seated in a high…backed chair；
was the Canterville ghost； rubbing his knees with an expression of
acute agony on his face。 The twins； having brought their pea…
shooters with them； at once discharged two pellets on him； with
that accuracy of aim which can only be attained by long and careful
practice on a writing…master； while the United States Minister
covered him with his revolver； and called upon him； in accordance
with Californian etiquette； to hold up his hands！ The ghost
started up with a wild shriek of rage； and swept through them like
a mist； extinguishing Washington Otis's candle as he passed； and so
leaving them all in total darkness。 On reaching the top of the
staircase he recovered himself； and determined to give his
celebrated peal of demoniac laughter。 This he had on more than one
occasion found extremely useful。 It was said to have turned Lord
Raker's wig grey in a single night； and had certainly made three of
Lady Canterville's French governesses give warning before their
month was up。 He accordingly laughed his most horrible laugh； till
the old vaulted roof rang and rang again； but hardly had the
fearful echo died away when a door opened； and Mrs。 Otis came out
in a light blue dressing…gown。 'I am afraid you are far from
well；' she said； 'and have brought you a bottle of Dr。 Dobell's
tincture。 If it is indigestion； you will find it a most excellent
remedy。' The ghost glared at her in fury； and began at once to
make preparations for turning himself into a large black dog； an
accomplishment for which he was justly renowned； and to which the
family doctor always attributed the permanent idiocy of Lord
Canterville's uncle； the Hon。 Thomas Horton。 The sound of
approaching footsteps； however； made him hesitate in his fell
purpose； so he contented himself with becoming faintly
phosphorescent； and vanished with a deep churchyard groan； just as
the twins had come up to him。
On reaching his room he entirely broke down； and became a prey to
the most violent agitation。 The vulgarity of the twins； and the
gross materialism of Mrs。 Otis； were naturally extremely annoying；
but what really distressed him most was； that he had been unable to
wear the suit of mail。 He had hoped that even modern Americans
would be thrilled by the sight of a Spectre In Armour； if for no
more sensible reason； at least out of respect for their national
poet Longfellow； over whose graceful and attractive poetry he
himself had whiled away many a weary hour when the Cantervilles
were up in town。 Besides； it was his own suit。 He had worn it
with great success at the Kenilworth tournament； and had been
highly complimented on it by no less a person than the Virgin Queen
herself。 Yet when he had put it on； he had been completely
overpowered by the weight of the huge breastplate and steel casque；
and had fallen heavily on the stone pavement； barking both his
knees severely； and bruising the knuckles of his right hand。
For some days after this he was extremely ill； and hardly stirred
out of his room at all； except to keep the blood…stain in proper
repair。 However； by taking great care of himself； he recovered；
and resolved to make a third attempt to frighten the United States