按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sounded twice his merry horn； deeds of blood would be wrought； and
Murder walk abroad with silent feet。
Hardly had he finished this awful oath when； from the red…tiled
roof of a distant homestead； a cock crew。 He laughed a long； low；
bitter laugh； and waited。 Hour after hour he waited； but the cock；
for some strange reason； did not crow again。 Finally； at half…past
seven； the arrival of the housemaids made him give up his fearful
vigil； and he stalked back to his room； thinking of his vain hope
and baffled purpose。 There he consulted several books of ancient
chivalry； of which he was exceedingly fond； and found that； on
every occasion on which his oath had been used； Chanticleer had
always crowed a second time。 'Perdition seize the naughty fowl；'
he muttered； 'I have seen the day when； with my stout spear； I
would have run him through the gorge； and made him crow for me an
'twere in death！' He then retired to a comfortable lead coffin；
and stayed there till evening。
CHAPTER IV
THE next day the ghost was very weak and tired。 The terrible
excitement of the last four weeks was beginning to have its effect。
His nerves were completely shattered； and he started at the
slightest noise。 For five days he kept his room； and at last made
up his mind to give up the point of the blood…stain on the library
floor。 If the Otis family did not want it； they clearly did not
deserve it。 They were evidently people on a low； material plane of
existence； and quite incapable of appreciating the symbolic value
of sensuous phenomena。 The question of phantasmic apparitions； and
the development of astral bodies； was of course quite a different
matter； and really not under his control。 It was his solemn duty
to appear in the corridor once a week； and to gibber from the large
oriel window on the first and third Wednesday in every month； and
he did not see how he could honourably escape from his obligations。
It is quite true that his life had been very evil； but； upon the
other hand； he was most conscientious in all things connected with
the supernatural。 For the next three Saturdays； accordingly； he
traversed the corridor as usual between midnight and three o'clock；
taking every possible precaution against being either heard or
seen。 He removed his boots； trod as lightly as possible on the old
worm…eaten boards； wore a large black velvet cloak； and was careful
to use the Rising Sun Lubricator for oiling his chains。 I am bound
to acknowledge that it was with a good deal of difficulty that he
brought himself to adopt this last mode of protection。 However；
one night； while the family were at dinner； he slipped into Mr。
Otis's bedroom and carried off the bottle。 He felt a little
humiliated at first； but afterwards was sensible enough to see that
there was a great deal to be said for the invention； and； to a
certain degree； it served his purpose。 Still； in spite of
everything； he was not left unmolested。 Strings were continually
being stretched across the corridor； over which he tripped in the
dark； and on one occasion； while dressed for the part of 'Black
Isaac； or the Huntsman of Hogley Woods；' he met with a severe fall；
through treading on a butter…slide； which the twins had constructed
from the entrance of the Tapestry Chamber to the top of the oak
staircase。 This last insult so enraged him； that he resolved to
make one final effort to assert his dignity and social position；
and determined to visit the insolent young Etonians the next night
in his celebrated character of 'Reckless Rupert； or the Headless
Earl。'
He had not appeared in this disguise for more than seventy years；
in fact； not since he had so frightened pretty Lady Barbara Modish
by means of it； that she suddenly broke off her engagement with the
present Lord Canterville's grandfather； and ran away to Gretna
Green with handsome Jack Castleton； declaring that nothing in the
world would induce her to marry into a family that allowed such a
horrible phantom to walk up and down the terrace at twilight。 Poor
Jack was afterwards shot in a duel by Lord Canterville on
Wandsworth Common； and Lady Barbara died of a broken heart at
Tunbridge Wells before the year was out； so； in every way； it had
been a great success。 It was； however； an extremely difficult
'make…up；' if I may use such a theatrical expression in connection
with one of the greatest mysteries of the supernatural； or； to
employ a more scientific term； the higher…natural world； and it
took him fully three hours to make his preparations。 At last
everything was ready； and he was very pleased with his appearance。
The big leather riding…boots that went with the dress were just a
little too large for him； and he could only find one of the two
horse…pistols； but； on the whole； he was quite satisfied； and at a
quarter past one he glided out of the wainscoting and crept down
the corridor。 On reaching the room occupied by the twins； which I
should mention was called the Blue Bed Chamber； on account of the
colour of its hangings； he found the door just ajar。 Wishing to
make an effective entrance； he flung it wide open； when a heavy jug
of water fell right down on him； wetting him to the skin； and just
missing his left shoulder by a couple of inches。 At the same
moment he heard stifled shrieks of laughter proceeding from the
four…post bed。 The shock to his nervous system was so great that
he fled back to his room as hard as he could go； and the next day
he was laid up with a severe cold。 The only thing that at all
consoled him in the whole affair was the fact that he had not
brought his head with him； for； had he done so； the consequences
might have been very serious。
He now gave up all hope of ever frightening this rude American
family； and contented himself； as a rule； with creeping about the
passages in list slippers； with a thick red muffler round his
throat for fear of draughts； and a small arquebuse； in case he
should be attacked by the twins。 The final blow he received
occurred on the 19th of September。 He had gone downstairs to the
great entrance…hall； feeling sure that there； at any rate； he would
be quite unmolested； and was amusing himself by making satirical
remarks on the large Saroni photographs of the United States
Minister and his wife； which had now taken the place of the
Canterville family pictures。 He was simply but neatly clad in a
long shroud； spotted with churchyard mould； had tied up his jaw
with a strip of yellow linen； and carried a small lantern and a
sexton's spade。 In fact； he was dressed for the character of
'Jonas the Graveless； or the Corpse…Snatcher of Chertsey Barn；' one
of his most remarkable impersonations； and one which the
Cantervilles had every reason to remember； as it was the real
origin of their quarrel with their neighbour； Lord Rufford。 It was
about a quarter past two o'clock in the morning； and； as far as he
could ascertain；