Отель с привидениями

           Hisretiringpensionandallowances,itiswellknown,diewithhim.FourhundredayearisthereforeallthathecanleavetotheCountess,ifheleavesherawidow.’

           ’Fourhundredayearisnotall,’wasthereplytothis.’Mybrotherhasinsuredhislifefortenthousandpounds;andhehassettledthewholeofitontheCountess,intheeventofhisdeath.’

           Thisannouncementproducedastrongsensation.Menlookedateachother,andrepeatedthethreestartlingwords,’Tenthousandpounds!’Drivenfairlytothewall,thelawyermadealastefforttodefendhisposition.

           ’MayIaskwhomadethatsettlementaconditionofthemarriage?’hesaid.’SurelyitwasnottheCountessherself?.’

           HenryWestwickanswered,’ItwastheCountess’sbrother’;andadded,’whichcomestothesamething.’

           Afterthat,therewasnomoretobesaid—solong,atleast,asMontbarry’sbrotherwaspresent.Thetalkflowedintootherchannels;andtheDoctorwenthome.

           ButhismorbidcuriosityabouttheCountesswasnotsetatrestyet.InhisleisuremomentshefoundhimselfwonderingwhetherLordMontbarry’sfamilywouldsucceedinstoppingthemarriageafterall.Andmorethanthis,hewasconsciousofagrowingdesiretoseetheinfatuatedmanhimself.Everydayduringthebriefintervalbeforethewedding,helookedinattheclub,onthechanceofhearingsomenews.Nothinghadhappened,sofarastheclubknew.TheCountess’spositionwassecure;Montbarry’sresolutiontobeherhusbandwasunshaken.TheywerebothRomanCatholics,andtheyweretobemarriedatthe—elinSpanishPlace.