Chapter 1

           WhenMr.HiramB.Otis,theAmericanMinister,boughtCantervilleChase, everyonetoldhimhewasdoingaveryfoolishthing, astherewasnodoubtatallthattheplacewashaunted. Indeed,LordCantervillehimself,whowasamanofthemostpunctilioushonour, hadfeltithisdutytomentionthefacttoMr.Otiswhentheycametodiscussterms. 

           "Wehavenotcaredtoliveintheplaceourselves,"saidLordCanterville, "sincemygrandaunt,theDowagerDuchessofBolton,wasfrightenedintoafit, fromwhichsheneverreallyrecovered, bytwoskeletonhandsbeingplacedonhershouldersasshewasdressingfordinner, andIfeelboundtotellyou,Mr.Otis,thattheghosthasbeenseenbyseverallivingmembersofmyfamily,aswellasbytherectoroftheparish, theRev.AugustusDampier,whoisaFellowofKing’sCollege,Cambridge. AftertheunfortunateaccidenttotheDuchess,noneofouryoungerservantswouldstaywithus, andLadyCantervilleoftengotverylittlesleepatnight,inconsequenceofthemysteriousnoises thatcamefromthecorridorandthelibrary." 

           "MyLord,"answeredtheMinister,"Iwilltakethefurnitureandtheghostatavaluation. Ihavecomefromamoderncountry,wherewehaveeverythingthatmoneycanbuy; andwithallourspryyoungfellowspaintingtheOldWorldred,andcarryingoffyourbestactorsandprima-donnas, IreckonthatifthereweresuchathingasaghostinEurope,we’dhaveitathomeinaveryshorttimeinoneofourpublicmuseums,orontheroadasashow." 

           "Ifearthattheghostexists,"saidLordCanterville,smiling, "thoughitmayhaveresistedtheoverturesofyourenterprisingimpresarios. Ithasbeenwellknownforthreecenturies,since1584infact, andalwaysmakesitsappearancebeforethedeathofanymemberofourfamily."