Отель с привидениями
Chapter XX
Sheneithermovednorspoke.Hestoopedandlookedcloserather.
Whatimpressionhadheproduced?Itwasanimpressionwhichhisutmostingenuityhadfailedtoanticipate.Shestoodbyhisside—justasshehadstoodbeforeAgneswhenherquestionaboutFerrariwasplainlyansweredatlast—likeawomanturnedtostone.Hereyeswerevacantandrigid;allthelifeinherfacehadfadedoutofit.Francistookherbythehand.Herhandwasascoldasthepavementthattheywerestandingon.Heaskedherifshewasill.
Notamuscleinhermoved.Hemightaswellhavespokentothedead.
’Surely,’hesaid,’youarenotfoolishenoughtotakewhatIhavebeentellingyouseriously?’
Herlipsmovedslowly.Asitseemed,shewasmakinganefforttospeaktohim.
’Louder,’hesaid.’Ican’thearyou.’
Shestruggledtorecoverpossessionofherself.Afaintlightbegantosoftenthedullcoldstareofhereyes.Inamomentmoreshespokesothathecouldhearher.
’Ineverthoughtoftheotherworld,’shemurmured,inlowdulltones,likeawomantalkinginhersleep.
HermindhadgonebacktothedayofherlastmemorableinterviewwithAgnes;shewasslowlyrecallingtheconfessionthathadescapedher,thewarningwordswhichshehadspokenatthatpasttime.Necessarilyincapableofunderstandingthis,Francislookedatherinperplexity.Shewentoninthesamedullvacanttone,steadilyfollowingoutherowntrainofthought,withherheedlesseyesonhisface,andherwanderingmindfarawayfromhim.
’Isaidsometriflingeventwouldbringustogetherthenexttime.Iwaswrong.