the canterville ghost
at eleven o'clock the family went to bed and by half - paast all the lights were out . some time after . Mr Otis woke up because of a noise outside his room . it sounded like the clank of metal . he got up at once struck a match and looked at the time . it was exactly one o ' clock . Mr Otis was quite calm . the strange noise continued and with he heard the sound of footsteps . he put on his slippers took a small bottle out of his dressing case and opened the door . right in front of him he saw an old man . he looked terrible . his eyes were red . his hair was long and grey . his clothes were old - fashioned and dirty and there were handcuffs and rusty chains on his wrists and ankles .
My dear sir said Mr Otis those chains need oiling . here take this small bottle of lubricant . I will leave it here for you and I will give you more if you need it . With these words the ambassador put the bottle down on a marble table and went back to bed closing the door behind him .