two o'clock in
the morning
He had gone down-stairs to the great entrance-hall , feeling sure that there , at any rate , he would be quite unmolested , and was amusing himself by making satirical remarks on the large Saroni photographs of the United States Minister and his wife which had now taken the place of the Canterville family pictures . He was simply but neatly clad in a long shroud , spotted with churchyard mould , had tied up his jaw with a strip of yellow linen , and carried a small lantern and a sexton 's spade . In fact , he was dressed for the character of `` Jonas the Graveless , or the Corpse-Snatcher of Chertsey Barn , '' one of his most remarkable impersonations , and one which the Cantervilles had every reason to remember , as it was the real origin of their quarrel with their neighbour , Lord Rufford . It was about a quarter-past two o'clock in the morning , and , as far as he could ascertain , no one was stirring . As he was strolling towards the library , however , to see if there were any traces left of the blood-stain , suddenly there leaped out on him from a dark corner two figures , who waved their arms wildly above their heads , and shrieked out `` BOO ! '' in his ear . -LSB- Illustration : `` SUDDENLY THERE LEAPED OUT TWO FIGURES . '' -RSB-