Отель с привидениями

           Agnesinterposedoncemore—intheinterestsofpeace.Shetooktheoffendedwife’shand;sheappealedtothelawyertoreconsiderthatsideofhistheorywhichreflectedharshlyonFerrari.Whileshewasstillspeaking,theservantinterruptedherbyenteringtheroomwithavisiting-card.ItwasthecardofHenryWestwick;andtherewasanominousrequestwrittenonitinpencil.’Ibringbadnews.Letmeseeyouforaminutedownstairs.’Agnesimmediatelylefttheroom.

           AlonewithMrs.Ferrari,Mr.Troypermittedhisnaturalkindnessofhearttoshowitselfonthesurfaceatlast.Hetriedtomakehispeacewiththecourier’swife.

           ’Youhaveeveryclaim,mygoodsoul,toresentareflectioncastuponyourhusband,’hebegan.’ImayevensaythatIrespectyouforspeakingsowarmlyinhisdefence.Atthesametime,remember,thatIambound,insuchaseriousmatterasthis,totellyouwhatisreallyinmymind.Icanhavenointentionofoffendingyou,seeingthatIamatotalstrangertoyouandtoMr.Ferrari.Athousandpoundsisalargesumofmoney;andapoormanmayexcusablybetemptedbyittodonothingworsethantokeepoutofthewayforawhile.Myonlyinterest,actingonyourbehalf,istogetatthetruth.Ifyouwillgivemetime,Iseenoreasontodespairoffindingyourhusbandyet.’

           Ferrari’swifelistened,withoutbeingconvinced:hernarrowlittlemind,filledtoitsextremecapacitybyherunfavourableopinionofMr.Troy,hadnoroomleftfortheprocessofcorrectingitsfirstimpression.’Iammuchobligedtoyou,sir,’wasallshesaid.