Отель с привидениями
Chapter XIX
’Thequestionisaperfectlynaturaloneonyourpart,’shesaid,withtheimpenetrablyironicalmannerwhichshecouldassumeoncertainoccasions.’Asanativeofhorse-racingEngland,youbelongtoanationofgamblers.Mybrotherdiednoextraordinarydeath,Mr.Westwick.Hesank,withmanyotherunfortunatepeople,underafeverprevalentinaWesterncitywhichwehappenedtovisit.ThecalamityofhislossmadetheUnitedStatesunendurabletome.IleftbythefirststeamerthatsailedfromNewYork—aFrenchvesselwhichbroughtmetoHavre.IcontinuedmylonelyjourneytotheSouthofFrance.AndthenIwentontoVenice.’
’Whatdoesallthismattertome?’Francisthoughttohimself.Shepaused,evidentlyexpectinghimtosaysomething.’SoyouhavecometoVenice?’hesaidcarelessly.’Why?’
’BecauseIcouldn’thelpit,’sheanswered.
Francislookedatherwithcynicalcuriosity.’Thatsoundsodd,’heremarked.’Whycouldn’tyouhelpit?’
’Womenareaccustomedtoactonimpulse,’sheexplained.’Supposewesaythatanimpulsehasdirectedmyjourney?Andyet,thisisthelastplaceintheworldthatIwishtofindmyselfin.AssociationsthatIdetestareconnectedwithitinmymind.IfIhadawillofmyown,Iwouldneverseeitagain.IhateVenice.Asyousee,however,Iamhere.Whendidyoumeetwithsuchanunreasonablewomanbefore?Never,Iamsure!’Shestopped,eyedhimforamoment,andsuddenlyalteredhertone.’WhenisMissAgnesLockwoodexpectedtobeinVenice?’sheasked.
