Кентервільський привид
Chapter 3
Thesoundofapproachingfootsteps,however,madehimhesitateinhisfellpurpose, sohecontentedhimselfwithbecomingfaintlyphosphorescent, andvanishedwithadeepchurchyardgroan,justasthetwinshadcomeuptohim.
Onreachinghisroomheentirelybrokedown,andbecameapreytothemostviolentagitation. Thevulgarityofthetwins,andthegrossmaterialismofMrs.Otis,werenaturallyextremelyannoying, butwhatreallydistressedhimmostwasthathehadbeenunabletowearthesuitofmail. HehadhopedthatevenmodernAmericanswouldbethrilledbythesightofaSpectreinarmour, iffornomoresensiblereason,atleastoutofrespectfortheirnaturalpoetLongfellow, overwhosegracefulandattractivepoetryhehimselfhadwhiledawaymanyawearyhour whentheCantervilleswereupintown. Besidesitwashisownsuit. HehadwornitwithgreatsuccessattheKenilworthtournament, andhadbeenhighlycomplimentedonitbynolessapersonthantheVirginQueenherself. Yetwhenhehadputiton,hehadbeencompletelyoverpoweredbytheweightofthehugebreastplate andsteelcasque,andhadfallenheavilyonthestonepavement, barkingbothhiskneesseverely,andbruisingtheknucklesofhisrighthand.
Forsomedaysafterthishewasextremelyill,andhardlystirredoutofhisroomatall, excepttokeeptheblood-staininproperrepair. However,bytakinggreatcareofhimself, herecovered,andresolvedtomakeathirdattempttofrightentheUnitedStatesMinisterandhisfamily. HeselectedFriday,August17th,forhisappearance, andspentmostofthatdayinlookingoverhiswardrobe, ultimatelydecidinginfavourofalargeslouchedhatwitharedfeather, awinding-sheetfrilledatthewristsandneck,andarustydagger.
