Кентервільський привид
Chapter 2
theimportanceofBostoninthedevelopmentoftheworld-soul; theadvantagesofthebaggage-checksysteminrailwaytravelling; andthesweetnessoftheNewYorkaccentascomparedtotheLondondrawl. Nomentionatallwasmadeofthesupernatural, norwasSirSimondeCantervillealludedtoinanyway. Ateleveno’clockthefamilyretired, andbyhalf-pastallthelightswereout. Sometimeafter, Mr.Otiswasawakenedbyacuriousnoiseinthecorridor,outsidehisroom. Itsoundedliketheclankofmetal, andseemedtobecomingnearereverymoment. Hegotupatonce,struckamatch,andlookedatthetime. Itwasexactlyoneo’clock. Hewasquitecalm, andfelthispulse,whichwasnotatallfeverish. Thestrangenoisestillcontinued, andwithithehearddistinctlythesoundoffootsteps. Heputonhisslippers, tookasmalloblongphialoutofhisdressing-case, andopenedthedoor. Rightinfrontofhimhesaw,inthewanmoonlight, anoldmanofterribleaspect. Hiseyeswereasredburningcoals; longgreyhairfelloverhisshouldersinmattedcoils; hisgarments,whichwereofantiquecut,weresoiledandragged, andfromhiswristsandankleshungheavymanaclesandrustygyves.
"Mydearsir,"saidMr.Otis, "Ireallymustinsistonyouroilingthosechains, andhavebroughtyouforthatpurposeasmallbottleoftheTammanyRisingSunLubricator. Itissaidtobecompletelyefficaciousupononeapplication, andthereareseveraltestimonialstothateffectonthewrapperfromsomeofourmosteminentnativedivines. Ishallleaveithereforyoubythebedroomcandles, andwillbehappytosupplyyouwithmore,shouldyourequireit. "WiththesewordstheUnitedStatesMinisterlaidthebottledownonamarbletable, and,closinghisdoor,retiredtorest.
