LITMIR.BIZ

      1. There was no doubt at all that the place was _________.

      2. Lord Canterville did not quite understand Mr. Otis’s last ______________________.

      3. A few weeks after this, the ______________ was concluded.

      4. Duke of Cheshire _________________ for Virginia on the spot.

      5. The air was __________________ with the scent of the pinewoods.

      6. The sky became suddenly _____________ with clouds.

      7. His ____________ spirit still haunts the Chase.

      8. In a few moments no ____________ of the blood-stain could be seen.

      9. There was________________, however, that she was extremely upset.

      10. Mr. Otis and his wife warmly _______________ her that they were not afraid of ghosts.

      II

      The storm raged fiercely all that night, but nothing of particular note occurred.[21] The next morning, however, when they came down to breakfast, they found the terrible stain of blood once again on the floor. “I don’t think it can be the fault of the Paragon Detergent,” said Washington, “for I have tried it with everything. It must be the ghost.” He rubbed out the stain a second time, but the second morning it appeared again. The third morning also it was there, though the library had been locked up at night by Mr. Otis himself, and the key carried up-stairs. The whole family were now quite interested; Mr. Otis began to suspect that he had been too dogmatic in his denial of the existence of ghosts, Mrs. Otis expressed her intention of joining the Psychical Society, and Washington prepared a long letter to Messrs. Myers and Podmore on the subject of the Permanence of Blood Stains when connected with Crime. That night all doubts about the existence of ghosts were removed for ever.

      The day had been warm and sunny; and, in the cool of the evening, the whole family went out to drive. They did not return home till nine o’clock, when they had a light supper. The conversation in no way turned upon ghosts. The subjects discussed, as I have since learned from Mr. Otis, were merely such as form the ordinary conversation of cultured Americans of the better class, such as the immense superiority of Miss Fanny Davenport over Sarah Bernhardt as an actress; the difficulty of obtaining green corn and buckwheat cakes, even in the best English houses; the importance of Boston in the development of the world-soul; the advantages of the baggage-check system[22] in railway travelling; and the sweetness of the New York accent as compared to the London drawl. No mention at all was made of the supernatural. At eleven o’clock the family retired, and by half-past all the lights were out. Some time after, Mr. Otis was awakened by a curious noise in the corridor, outside his room. It sounded like the clank of metal, and seemed to be coming nearer every moment. He got up at once, struck a match, and looked at the time. It was exactly one o’clock. He was quite calm. The strange noise still continued, and with it he heard distinctly the sound of footsteps. He put on his slippers, took a small phial out of his dressing-case, and opened the door. Right in front of him he saw an old man of terrible aspect.[23] His eyes were as red burning coals; long grey hair fell over his shoulders in matted coils; his garments, which were of antique cut,[24] were soiled and ragged, and from his wrists and ankles hung heavy manacles and rusty gyves.

      “My dear sir,” said Mr. Otis, “I really must insist on your oiling those chains,[25] and have brought you for that purpose a small bottle of the Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator.[26] I shall leave it here for you by the bedroom candles, and will be happy to supply you with more, if you need it.” With these words the United States Minister laid the bottle down on a marble table, and, closing his door, retired to rest.

      For

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