entrance of the Tapestry Chamber to the top of the oak staircase.
This last insult so enraged him, that he resolved to make one final
effort to assert his dignity and social position, and determined to
visit the insolent young Etonians the next night in his celebrated
character of 'Reckless Rupert, or the Headless Earl.'

He had not appeared in this disguise for more than seventy years; in
fact, not since he had so frightened pretty Lady Barbara Modish by
means of it, that she suddenly broke off her engagement with the
present Lord Canterville's grandfather, and ran away to Gretna Green
with handsome Jack Castleton, declaring that nothing in the world
would induce her to marry into a family that allowed such a horrible
phantom to walk up and down the terrace at twilight. Poor Jack was
afterwards shot in a duel by Lord Canterville on Wandsworth Common,
and Lady Barbara died of a broken heart at Tunbridge Wells before
the year was out, so, in every way, it had been a great success. It
was, however, an extremely difficult 'make-up,' if I may use such a
theatrical expression in connection with one of the greatest
mysteries of the supernatural, or, to employ a more scientific term,
the higher-natural world, and it took him fully three hours to make
his preparations. At last everything was ready, and he was very
pleased with his appearance. The big leather riding-boots that went
with the dress were just a little too large for him, and he could
only find one of the two horse-pistols, but, on the whole, he was
quite satisfied, and at a quarter past one he glided out of the
wainscoting and crept down the corridor. On reaching the room
occupied by the twins, which I should mention was called the Blue
Bed Chamber, on account of the colour of its hangings, he found the
door just ajar. Wishing to make an effective entrance, he flung it
wide open, when a heavy jug of water fell right down on him, wetting