Отель с привидениями
Chapter X
’Doyouwantmoney?’
’Money!’Thatonewordrousedthesinkingspiritofthecourier’swife.Sherecoveredhercourage;shefoundhervoice.’Lookatme,mylady,ifyouplease,’shesaid,withasuddenoutbreakofaudacity.
LadyMontbarrylookedroundforthethirdtime.ThefatalwordspassedMrs.Ferrari’slips.
’Icome,mylady,toacknowledgethereceiptofthemoneysenttoFerrari’swidow.’
LadyMontbarry’sglitteringblackeyesrestedwithsteadyattentiononthewomanwhohadaddressedherinthoseterms.Notthefaintestexpressionofconfusionoralarm,notevenamomentaryflutterofintereststirredthedeadlystillnessofherface.Shereposedasquietly,sheheldthescreenascomposedly,asever.Thetesthadbeentried,andhadutterlyfailed.
Therewasanothersilence.LadyMontbarryconsideredwithherself.Thesmilethatcameslowlyandwentawaysuddenly—thesmileatoncesosadandsocruel—showeditselfonherthinlips.Sheliftedherscreen,andpointedwithittoaseatatthefartherendoftheroom.’Besogoodastotakethatchair,’shesaid.
Helplessunderherfirstbewilderingsenseoffailure—notknowingwhattosayorwhattodonext—Mrs.Ferrarimechanicallyobeyed.LadyMontbarry,risingonthesofaforthefirsttime,watchedherwithundisguisedscrutinyasshecrossedtheroom—thensankbackintoarecliningpositiononcemore.’No,’shesaidtoherself,’thewomanwalkssteadily;sheisnotintoxicated—theonlyotherpossibilityisthatshemaybemad.’
Shehadspokenloudenoughtobeheard.Stungbytheinsult,Mrs.
