Кентервільський привид

           TheOtises,however,weredeceived, fortheghostwasstillinthehouse,andthoughnowalmostaninvalid,wasbynomeansreadytoletmattersrest,particularlyasheheardthatamongtheguestswastheyoungDukeofCheshire,whosegrand-uncle,LordFrancisStilton,hadoncebetahundredguineaswithColonelCarburythathewouldplaydicewiththeCantervilleghost, andwasfoundthenextmorninglyingonthefloorofthecardroominsuchahelplessparalyticstatethat,thoughhelivedontoagreatage,hewasneverabletosayanythingagainbut "DoubleSixes. "Thestorywaswellknownatthetime,though,ofcourse,outofrespecttothefeelingsofthetwonoblefamilies,everyattemptwasmadetohushitup, andafullaccountofallthecircumstancesconnectedwithitwillbefoundinthethirdvolumeofLordTattle’sRecollectionsofthePrinceRegentandhisFriends. Theghost,then,wasnaturallyveryanxioustoshowthathehadnotlosthisinfluenceovertheStiltons,withwhom,indeed,hewasdistantlyconnected, hisownfirstcousinhavingbeenmarriedensecondesnocestotheSieurdeBulkeley,fromwhom,aseveryoneknows,theDukesofCheshirearelineallydescended. Accordingly,hemadearrangementsforappearingtoVirginia’slittleloverinhiscelebratedimpersonationof"TheVampireMonk,ortheBloodlessBenedictine," aperformancesohorriblethatwhenoldLadyStartupsawit,whichshedidononefatalNewYear’sEve,intheyear1764,shewentoffintothemostpiercingshrieks,whichculminatedinviolentapoplexy, anddiedinthreedays,afterdisinheritingtheCantervilles,whowerehernearestrelations,andleavingallhermoneytoherLondonapothecary. Atthelastmoment,however,histerrorofthetwinspreventedhisleavinghisroom,andthelittleDukesleptinpeaceunderthegreatfeatheredcanopyintheRoyalBedchamber,anddreamedofVirginia.