Отель с привидениями
Chapter III
WhilethetopicoftheCountess’smarriagewasstilltheonetopicofconversation,amemberoftheclubenteredthesmoking-roomwhoseappearanceinstantlyproducedadeadsilence.DoctorWybrow’snextneighbourwhisperedtohim,’Montbarry’sbrother—HenryWestwick!’
Thenew-comerlookedroundhimslowly,withabittersmile.
’Youarealltalkingofmybrother,’hesaid.’Don’tmindme.NotoneofyoucandespisehimmoreheartilythanIdo.Goon,gentlemen—goon!’
Butonemanpresenttookthespeakerathisword.ThatmanwasthelawyerwhohadalreadyundertakenthedefenceoftheCountess.
’Istandaloneinmyopinion,’hesaid,’andIamnotashamedofrepeatingitinanybody’shearing.IconsidertheCountessNaronatobeacruelly-treatedwoman.Whyshouldn’tshebeLordMontbarry’swife?Whocansayshehasamercenarymotiveinmarryinghim?’
Montbarry’sbrotherturnedsharplyonthespeaker.’Isayit!’heanswered.
Thereplymighthaveshakensomemen.Thelawyerstoodonhisgroundasfirmlyasever.
’IbelieveIamright,’herejoined,’instatingthathislordship’sincomeisnotmorethansufficienttosupporthisstationinlife;alsothatitisanincomederivedalmostentirelyfromlandedpropertyinIreland,everyacreofwhichisentailed.’
Montbarry’sbrothermadeasign,admittingthathehadnoobjectiontooffersofar.
’Ifhislordshipdiesfirst,’thelawyerproceeded,’Ihavebeeninformedthattheonlyprovisionhecanmakeforhiswidowconsistsinarent-chargeonthepropertyofnomorethanfourhundredayear.
