Кентервільський привид
Chapter 3
Towardseveningaviolentstormofraincameon, andthewindwassohighthatallthewindowsanddoorsintheoldhouseshookandrattled. Infact,itwasjustsuchweatherasheloved. Hisplanofactionwasthis. HewastomakehiswayquietlytoWashingtonOtis’sroom,gibberathimfromthefootofthebed, andstabhimselfthreetimesinthethroattothesoundoflowmusic. HeboreWashingtonaspecialgrudge, beingquiteawarethatitwashewhowasinthehabitofremovingthefamousCantervilleblood-stainbymeansofPinkerton’sParagonDetergent. Havingreducedtherecklessandfoolhardyyouthtoaconditionofabjectterror, hewasthentoproceedtotheroomoccupiedbytheUnitedStatesMinisterandhiswife, andtheretoplaceaclammyhandonMrs.Otis’sforehead, whilehehissedintohertremblinghusband’seartheawfulsecretsofthecharnel-house. WithregardtolittleVirginia,hehadnotquitemadeuphismind. Shehadneverinsultedhiminanyway,andwasprettyandgentle. Afewhollowgroansfromthewardrobe,hethought,wouldbemorethansufficient, or,ifthatfailedtowakeher,hemightgrabbleatthecounterpanewithpalsy-twitchingfingers. Asforthetwins,hewasquitedeterminedtoteachthemalesson. Thefirstthingtobedonewas,ofcourse,tositupontheirchests,soastoproducethestiflingsensationofnightmare. Then,astheirbedswerequiteclosetoeachother,tostandbetweenthemintheformofagreen,icy-coldcorpse, tilltheybecameparalyzedwithfear, andfinally,tothrowoffthewinding-sheet,andcrawlroundtheroom,withwhite,bleachedbonesandonerollingeyeball,inthecharacterof"DumbDaniel,ortheSuicide’sSkeleton," aroleinwhichhehadonmorethanoneoccasionproducedagreateffect, andwhichheconsideredquiteequaltohisfamouspartof"MartintheManiac,ortheMaskedMystery."
