murdered on that very spot by her own husband, Sir Simon de
Canterville, in 1575. Sir Simon survived her nine years, and
disappeared suddenly under very mysterious circumstances. His body
has never been discovered, but his guilty spirit still haunts the
Chase. The blood-stain has been much admired by tourists and
others, and cannot be removed.'

'That is all nonsense,' cried Washington Otis; 'Pinkerton's Champion
Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent will clean it up in no time,'
and before the terrified housekeeper could interfere he had fallen
upon his knees, and was rapidly scouring the floor with a small
stick of what looked like a black cosmetic. In a few moments no
trace of the blood-stain could be seen.

'I knew Pinkerton would do it,' he exclaimed triumphantly, as he
looked round at his admiring family; but no sooner had he said these
words than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the sombre room, a
fearful peal of thunder made them all start to their feet, and Mrs.
Umney fainted.

'What a monstrous climate!' said the American Minister calmly, as he
lit a long cheroot. 'I guess the old country is so overpopulated
that they have not enough decent weather for everybody. I have
always been of opinion that emigration is the only thing for
England.'

'My dear Hiram,' cried Mrs. Otis, 'what can we do with a woman who
faints?'

'Charge it to her like breakages,' answered the Minister; 'she won't