The Canterville Ghost

When Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, every one toldhim he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place was haunted.Indeed, Lord Canterville himself, who was a man of the most punctilious honour, had felt it his dutyto mention the fact to Mr. Otis when they came to discuss terms."We have not cared to live in the place ourselves," said Lord Canterville, "since my grandaunt, theDowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened...
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When Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, every one toldhim he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place was haunted.Indeed, Lord Canterville himself, who was a man of the most punctilious honour, had felt it his dutyto mention the fact to Mr. Otis when they came to discuss terms."We have not cared to live in the place ourselves," said Lord Canterville, "since my grandaunt, theDowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened into a fit, from which she never really recovered, bytwo skeleton hands being placed on her shoulders as she was dressing for dinner, and I feel boundto tell you, Mr. Otis, that the ghost has been seen by several living members of my family, as well asby 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 would staywith us, and Lady Canterville often got very little sleep at night, in consequence of the mysteriousnoises that came from the corridor and the library.""My Lord," answered the Minister, "I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation. I havecome from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; and with all our spryyoung fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actors and prima-donnas, Ireckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in a very short timein one of our public museums, or on the road as a show.""I fear that the ghost exists," said Lord Canterville, smiling, "though it may have resisted theovertures of your enterprising impresarios. It has been well known for three centuries, since 1584 infact, and always makes its appearance before the death of any member of our family.""Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, Lord Canterville. But there is no such thing, sir,as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy.""You are certainly very natural in America," answered Lord Canterville, who did not quiteunderstand Mr. Otis's last observation, "and if you don't mind a ghost in the house, it is all right.Only you must remember I warned you.