Отель с привидениями
Chapter VIII
IcouldconscientiouslyassureLadyMontbarrythatnodangerwastobeapprehendedthusfar.Shewasindeedamostdevotedwife.Ivainlyendeavouredtoinducehertoaccepttheservicesofacompetentnurse;shewouldallownobodytoattendonherhusbandbutherself.Nightanddaythisestimablewomanwasathisbedside.Inherbriefintervalsofrepose,herbrotherwatchedthesickmaninherplace.Thisbrotherwas,Imustsay,verygoodcompany,intheintervalswhenwehadtimeforalittletalk.Hedabbledinchemistry,downinthehorridunder-watervaultsofthepalace;andhewantedtoshowmesomeofhisexperiments.Ihaveenoughofchemistryinwritingprescriptions—andIdeclined.Hetookitquitegood-humouredly.
’"Iamstrayingawayfrommysubject.Letmereturntothesicklord.
’"Uptothe20th,then,thingswentwellenough.Iwasquiteunpreparedforthedisastrouschangethatshoweditself,whenIpaidLordMontbarrymymorningvisitonthe21st.Hehadrelapsed,andseriouslyrelapsed.Examininghimtodiscoverthecause,Ifoundsymptomsofpneumonia—thatistosay,inunmedicallanguage,inflammationofthesubstanceofthelungs.Hebreathedwithdifficulty,andwasonlypartiallyabletorelievehimselfbycoughing.Imadethestrictestinquiries,andwasassuredthathismedicinehadbeenadministeredascarefullyasusual,andthathehadnotbeenexposedtoanychangesoftemperature.
