Кентервильское привидение
Chapter 3
Unabletounderstandthiscurioustransformation, heclutchedtheplacardwithfeverishhaste,andthere,inthegreymorninglight, hereadthesefearfulwords:
YEOTISGHOSTE
YeOnlieTrueandOriginaleSpook, BewareofYeImitationes. Allothersarecounterfeite.
Thewholethingflashedacrosshim. Hehadbeentricked,foiled,andout-witted! TheoldCantervillelookcameintohiseyes; hegroundhistoothlessgumstogether; and,raisinghiswitheredhandshighabovehishead, sworeaccordingtothepicturesquephraseologyoftheantiqueschool,that,whenChanticleerhadsoundedtwicehismerryhorn, deedsofbloodwouldbewrought,andmurderwalkabroadwithsilentfeet.
Hardlyhadhefinishedthisawfuloathwhen, fromthered-tiledroofofadistanthomestead,acockcrew. Helaughedalong,low,bitterlaugh,andwaited. Hourafterhourhewaited,butthecock,forsomestrangereason,didnotcrowagain. Finally,athalf-pastseven,thearrivalofthehousemaidsmadehimgiveuphisfearfulvigil, andhestalkedbacktohisroom,thinkingofhisvainoathandbaffledpurpose. Thereheconsultedseveralbooksofancientchivalry, ofwhichhewasexceedinglyfond,andfoundthat,oneveryoccasion onwhichthisoathhadbeenused, Chanticleerhadalwayscrowedasecondtime. "Perditionseizethenaughtyfowl,"hemuttered, "Ihaveseenthedaywhen,withmystoutspear,Iwouldhaverunhimthroughthegorge, andmadehimcrowformean’twereindeath!" Hethenretiredtoacomfortableleadcoffin, andstayedtheretillevening.
