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repair。 However； by taking great care of himself； he recovered；
and resolved to make a third attempt to frighten the United States
Minister and his family。 He selected Friday； the 17th of August；
for his appearance； and spent most of that day in looking over his
wardrobe； ultimately deciding in favour of a large slouched hat
with a red feather； a winding…sheet frilled at the wrists and neck；
and a rusty dagger。 Towards evening a violent storm of rain came
on； and the wind was so high that all the windows and doors in the
old house shook and rattled。 In fact； it was just such weather as
he loved。 His plan of action was this。 He was to make his way
quietly to Washington Otis's room； gibber at him from the foot of
the bed； and stab himself three times in the throat to the sound of
slow music。 He bore Washington a special grudge； being quite aware
that it was he who was in the habit of removing the famous
Canterville blood…stain； by means of Pinkerton's Paragon Detergent。
Having reduced the reckless and foolhardy youth to a condition of
abject terror； he was then to proceed to the room occupied by the
United States Minister and his wife； and there to place a clammy
hand on Mrs。 Otis's forehead； while he hissed into her trembling
husband's ear the awful secrets of the charnel…house。 With regard
to little Virginia； he had not quite made up his mind。 She had
never insulted him in any way； and was pretty and gentle。 A few
hollow groans from the wardrobe； he thought； would be more than
sufficient； or； if that failed to wake her； he might grabble at the
counterpane with palsy…twitching fingers。 As for the twins； he was
quite determined to teach them a lesson。 The first thing to be
done was； of course； to sit upon their chests； so as to produce the
stifling sensation of nightmare。 Then； as their beds were quite
close to each other； to stand between them in the form of a green；
icy…cold corpse； till they became paralysed with fear； and finally；
to throw off the winding…sheet； and crawl round the room； with
white bleached bones and one rolling eye…ball； in the character of
'Dumb Daniel； or the Suicide's Skeleton；' a ROLE in which he had on
more than one occasion produced a great effect； and which he
considered quite equal to his famous part of 'Martin the Maniac； or
the Masked Mystery。'
At half…past ten he heard the family going to bed。 For some time
he was disturbed by wild shrieks of laughter from the twins； who；
with the light…hearted gaiety of schoolboys； were evidently amusing
themselves before they retired to rest； but at a quarter past
eleven all was still； and； as midnight sounded； he sallied forth。
The owl beat against the window panes； the raven croaked from the
old yew…tree； and the wind wandered moaning round the house like a
lost soul； but the Otis family slept unconscious of their doom； and
high above the rain and storm he could hear the steady snoring of
the Minister for the United States。 He stepped stealthily out of
the wainscoting； with an evil smile on his cruel； wrinkled mouth；
and the moon hid her face in a cloud as he stole past the great
oriel window； where his own arms and those of his murdered wife
were blazoned in azure and gold。 On and on he glided； like an evil
shadow； the very darkness seeming to loathe him as he passed。 Once
he thought he heard something call； and stopped； but it was only
the baying of a dog from the Red Farm； and he went on； muttering
strange sixteenth…century curses； and ever and anon brandishing the
rusty dagger in the midnight air。 Finally he reached the corner of
the passage that led to luckless Washington's room。 For a moment
he paused there； the wind blowing his long grey locks about his
head； and twisting into grotesque and fantastic folds the nameless
horror of the dead man's shroud。 Then the clock struck the
quarter； and he felt the time was come。 He chuckled to himself；
and turned the corner； but no sooner had he done so； than； with a
piteous wail of terror； he fell back； and hid his blanched face in
his long； bony hands。 Right in front of him was standing a
horrible spectre； motionless as a carven image； and monstrous as a
madman's dream！ Its head was bald and burnished； its face round；
and fat； and white； and hideous laughter seemed to have writhed its
features into an eternal grin。 From the eyes streamed rays of
scarlet light； the mouth was a wide well of fire； and a hideous
garment； like to his own； swathed with its silent snows the Titan
form。 On its breast was a placard with strange writing in antique
characters； some scroll of shame it seemed； some record of wild
sins； some awful calendar of crime； and； with its right hand； it
bore aloft a falchion of gleaming steel。
Never having seen a ghost before； he naturally was terribly
frightened； and； after a second hasty glance at the awful phantom；
he fled back to his room； tripping up in his long winding…sheet as
he sped down the corridor； and finally dropping the rusty dagger
into the Minister's jack…boots； where it was found in the morning
by the butler。 Once in the privacy of his own apartment； he flung
himself down on a small pallet…bed； and hid his face under the
clothes。 After a time； however； the brave old Canterville spirit
asserted itself； and he determined to go and speak to the other
ghost as soon as it was daylight。 Accordingly； just as the dawn
was touching the hills with silver； he returned towards the spot
where he had first laid eyes on the grisly phantom； feeling that；
after all； two ghosts were better than one； and that； by the aid of
his new friend； he might safely grapple with the twins。 On
reaching the spot； however； a terrible sight met his gaze。
Something had evidently happened to the spectre； for the light had
entirely faded from its hollow eyes； the gleaming falchion had
fallen from its hand； and it was leaning up against the wall in a
strained and uncomfortable attitude。 He rushed forward and seized
it in his arms； when； to his horror； the head slipped off and
rolled on the floor； the body assumed a recumbent posture； and he
found himself clasping a white dimity bed…curtain； with a sweeping…
brush； a kitchen cleaver； and a hollow turnip lying at his feet！
Unable to understand this curious transformation； he clutched the
placard with feverish haste； and there； in the grey morning light；
he read these fearful words：…
YE OLDE GHOSTE
Ye Onlie True and Originale Spook。
Beware of Ye Imitationes。
All others are Counterfeite。
The whole thing flashed across him。 He had been tricked； foiled；
and outwitted！ The old Canterville look came into his eyes； he
ground his toothless gums together； and； raising his withered hands
high above his head； swore； according to the picturesque
phraseology of the antique school； that when Chanticleer had
sounded twice his merry horn； deeds of blood would be wrought； and
Murder walk abroad with silent feet。