Отель с привидениями
Chapter XXIII
’Haveyouseenherthismorning?’
’Ihaveseenhernottenminutessince.’
’Whatwasshedoing?’
’Shewasbusilyengagedinwriting.IcouldnotevengethertolookatmeuntilIthoughtofmentioningyourname.’
’Sherememberedme,ofcourse?’
’Sherememberedyouwithsomedifficulty.Findingthatshewouldn’tanswermeonanyotherterms,IquestionedherasifIhadcomedirectfromyou.Thenshespoke.ShenotonlyadmittedthatshehadthesamesuperstitiousmotiveforplacingyouinthatroomwhichshehadacknowledgedtoFrancis—sheevenownedthatshehadbeenbyyourbedside,watchingthroughthenight,"toseewhatyousaw,"assheexpressedit.Hearingthis,Itriedtopersuadehertotellmehowshegotintotheroom.Unluckily,hermanuscriptonthetablecaughthereye;shereturnedtoherwriting."TheBaronwantsmoney,"shesaid;"Imustgetonwithmyplay."Whatshesawordreamedwhileshewasinyourroomlastnight,itisatpresentimpossibletodiscover.Butjudgingbymybrother’saccountofher,aswellasbywhatIrememberofhermyself,somerecentinfluencehasbeenatworkwhichhasproducedamarkedchangeinthiswretchedwomanfortheworse.Hermind(sincelastnight,perhaps)ispartiallyderanged.OneproofofitisthatshespoketomeoftheBaronasifhewerestillalivingman.WhenFrancissawher,shedeclaredthattheBaronwasdead,whichisthetruth.TheUnitedStatesConsulatMilanshowedustheannouncementofthedeathinanAmericannewspaper.