Отель с привидениями

           Addtothesehostilemembersofthefamilyanotheroffendedrelativenotmentionedinthe’Peerage,’ayounglady—’

           Asuddenoutburstofprotestinmorethanonepartoftheroomstoppedthecomingdisclosure,andreleasedtheDoctorfromfurtherpersecution.

           ’Don’tmentionthepoorgirl’sname;it’stoobadtomakeajokeofthatpartofthebusiness;shehasbehavednoblyundershamefulprovocation;thereisbutoneexcuseforMontbarry—heiseitheramadmanorafool.’Inthesetermstheprotestexpresseditselfonallsides.Speakingconfidentiallytohisnextneighbour,theDoctordiscoveredthattheladyreferredtowasalreadyknowntohim(throughtheCountess’sconfession)astheladydesertedbyLordMontbarry.HernamewasAgnesLockwood.ShewasdescribedasbeingthesuperioroftheCountessinpersonalattraction,andasbeingalsobysomeyearstheyoungerwomanofthetwo.Makingallallowanceforthefolliesthatmencommittedeverydayintheirrelationswithwomen,Montbarry’sdelusionwasstillthemostmonstrousdelusiononrecord.Inthisexpressionofopinioneverymanpresentagreed—thelawyerevenincluded.Notoneofthemcouldcalltomindtheinnumerableinstancesinwhichthesexualinfluencehasprovedirresistibleinthepersonsofwomenwithouteventhepretensiontobeauty.TheverymembersoftheclubwhomtheCountess(inspiteofherpersonaldisadvantages)couldhavemosteasilyfascinated,ifshehadthoughtitworthherwhile,werethememberswhowonderedmostloudlyatMontbarry’schoiceofawife.