Кентервільський привид

           Fromtheeyesstreamedraysofscarletlight, themouthwasawidewelloffire, andahideousgarment,liketohisown, swathedwithitssilentsnowstheTitanform. Onitsbreastwasaplacardwithstrangewritinginantiquecharacters, somescrollofshameitseemed,somerecordofwildsins,someawfulcalendarofcrime, and,withitsrighthand,itborealoftafalchionofgleamingsteel. 

           Neverhavingseenaghostbefore,henaturallywasterriblyfrightened, and,afterasecondhastyglanceattheawfulphantom, hefledbacktohisroom, trippingupinhislongwinding-sheetashespeddownthecorridor, andfinallydroppingtherustydaggerintotheMinister’sjack-boots, whereitwasfoundinthemorningbythebutler. Onceintheprivacyofhisownapartment,heflunghimselfdownonasmallpallet-bed,andhidhisfaceundertheclothes. Afteratime,however,thebraveoldCantervillespiritasserteditself,andhedeterminedtogoandspeaktotheotherghostassoonasitwasdaylight. Accordingly,justasthedawnwastouchingthehillswithsilver, hereturnedtowardsthespotwherehehadfirstlaideyesonthegrislyphantom, feelingthat,afterall,twoghostswerebetterthanone, andthat,bytheaidofhisnewfriend,hemightsafelygrapplewiththetwins. Onreachingthespot,however,aterriblesightmethisgaze. Somethinghadevidentlyhappenedtothespectre, forthelighthadentirelyfadedfromitsholloweyes,thegleamingfalchionhadfallenfromitshand, anditwasleaningupagainstthewallinastrainedanduncomfortableattitude. Herushedforwardandseizeditinhisarms, when,tohishorror,theheadslippedoffandrolledonthefloor, thebodyassumedarecumbentposture, andhefoundhimselfclaspingawhitedimitybed-curtain, withasweeping-brush,akitchencleaver,andahollowturniplyingathisfeet!