Кентервильское привидение. Человек-невидимка / The Canterville Ghost. The Invisible Man

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When Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase,[1] every one told him he was doing a very stupid thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place was haunted.[2] Indeed, Lord Canterville himself, who was a man of the most punctilious honour,[3] had decided to mention the fact to Mr. Otis when they came to discuss terms.[4]

“We have not cared to live in the place ourselves,” said Lord Canterville, “since my grandaunt, the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened into a fit,[5] from which she never really recovered, by two skeleton hands being placed on her shoulders as she was dressing for dinner, and I feel bound to tell you, Mr. Otis, that the ghost has been seen by several living members of my family, as well as by the rector of the parish, the Rev. Augustus Dampier, who is a Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge. After the unfortunate accident to the Duchess, none of our younger servants didn’t want to stay with us, and Lady Canterville often couldn’t sleep because she heard some mysterious noises that came from the corridor and the library.”

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