Кентервільський привид

           ForamomenttheCantervilleghoststoodquitemotionlessinnaturalindignation; then,dashingthebottleviolentlyuponthepolishedfloor, hefleddownthecorridor, utteringhollowgroans,andemittingaghastlygreenlight. Just,however,ashereachedthetopofthegreatoakstaircase, adoorwasflungopen,twolittlewhite-robedfiguresappeared, andalargepillowwhizzedpasthishead! Therewasevidentlynotimetobelost, so,hastilyadoptingtheFourthdimensionofSpaceasameansofescape, hevanishedthroughthewainscoting, andthehousebecamequitequiet. 

           Onreachingasmallsecretchamberintheleftwing, heleanedupagainstamoonbeamtorecoverhisbreath, andbegantotryandrealizehisposition. Never,inabrilliantanduninterruptedcareerofthreehundredyears, hadhebeensogrosslyinsulted. HethoughtoftheDowagerDuchess,whomhehadfrightenedintoafitasshestoodbeforetheglass inherlaceanddiamonds; ofthefourhousemaids,whohadgoneintohysterics whenhemerelygrinnedatthemthroughthecurtainsononeofthesparebedrooms; oftherectoroftheparish,whosecandlehehadblownout ashewascominglateonenightfromthelibrary, andwhohadbeenunderthecareofSirWilliamGulleversince, aperfectmartyrtonervousdisorders; andofoldMadamedeTremouillac,who,havingwakeneduponemorningearly andseenaskeletonseatedinanarmchairbythefirereadingherdiary, hadbeenconfinedtoherbedforsixweekswithanattackofbrainfever, and,onherrecovery,hadbecomereconciledtotheChurch, andbrokenoffherconnectionwiththatnotorioussceptic,MonsieurdeVoltaire. 

           Herememberedtheterriblenight whenthewickedLordCantervillewasfoundchokinginhisdressing-room, withtheknaveofdiamondshalf-waydownhisthroat, andconfessed,justbeforehedied, thathehadcheatedCharlesJamesFoxoutof£50,000atCrockford’sbymeansofthatverycard, andsworethattheghosthadmadehimswallowit.