about a quarter past two o’clock in the
morning
He had gone downstairs 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 . Seized with a panic , which , under the circumstances , was only natural , he rushed for the staircase , but found Washington Otis waiting for him there with the big garden-syringe ; and being thus hemmed in by his enemies on every side , and driven almost to bay , he vanished into the great iron stove , which , fortunately for him , was not lit , and had to make his way home through the flues and chimneys , arriving at his own room in a terrible state of dirt , disorder , and despair .