Oscar Wilde

The Canterville Ghost Oscar Wilde

When Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, every onetold him he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place washaunted. Indeed, Lord Canterville himself, who was a man of the most punctilious honour, had felt it his duty to 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 mygrandaunt, the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened into a fit, from which she neverreally recovered, by two skeleton hands being placed on her shoulders as she was dressingfor dinner, and I feel bound to tell you, Mr. Otis, that the ghost has been seen by severalliving members of my family, as well as by the rector of the parish, the Rev. AugustusDampier, who is a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. After the unfortunate accident tothe Duchess, none of our younger servants would stay with us, and Lady Canterville oftengot very little sleep at night, in consequence of the mysterious noises that came from thecorridor and the library.""My Lord," answered the Minister, "I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation. Ihave come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; andwith all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your bestactors and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'dhave it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as ashow.""I fear that the ghost exists," said Lord Canterville, smiling, "though it may have resistedthe overtures of your enterprising impresarios. It has been well known for three centuries, since 1584 in fact, and always makes its appearance before the death of any member of ourfamily.""Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, Lord Canterville. But there is no suchthing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for theBritish aristocracy.""You are certainly very natural in America," answered Lord Canterville, who did notquite understand Mr. Otis's last observation, "and if you don't mind a ghost in the house, itis all right. Only you must remember I warned you