Отель с привидениями
Chapter XXIII
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Inthosewords,LordMontbarrystatedthecasetohisbrotherfromtherationalpointofview.Henrymadenoremark,hewentstraighttothedrawing-room.
HefoundAgneswalkingrapidlybackwardsandforwards,flushedandexcited.’Ifyoucomeheretosaywhatyourbrotherhasbeensayingtome,’shebrokeout,beforehecouldspeak,’spareyourselfthetrouble.Idon’twantcommonsense—Iwantatruefriendwhowillbelieveinme.’
’Iamthatfriend,Agnes,’Henryansweredquietly,’andyouknowit.’
’YoureallybelievethatIamnotdeludedbyadream?’
Iknowthatyouarenotdeluded—inoneparticular,atleast.’
’Inwhatparticular?’
’InwhatyouhavesaidoftheCountess.Itisperfectlytrue—’
Agnesstoppedhimthere.’WhydoIonlyhearthismorningthattheCountessandMrs.Jamesareoneandthesameperson?’sheaskeddistrustfully.’WhywasInottoldofitlastnight?’
’YouforgetthatyouhadacceptedtheexchangeofroomsbeforeIreachedVenice,’Henryreplied.’Ifeltstronglytemptedtotellyou,eventhen—butyoursleepingarrangementsforthenightwereallmade;Ishouldonlyhaveinconveniencedandalarmedyou.Iwaitedtillthemorning,afterhearingfrommybrotherthatyouhadyourselfseentoyoursecurityfromanyintrusion.Howthatintrusionwasaccomplisheditisimpossibletosay.IcanonlydeclarethattheCountess’spresencebyyourbedsidelastnightwasnodreamofyours.OnherownauthorityIcantestifythatitwasareality.’
’Onherownauthority?’Agnesrepeatedeagerly.
