Готель з привидами
Chapter XIII
Wouldyouliketoseeher?’
Agnesacceptedtheproposal,inthefainthopeofgettingsomeinformationforthecourier’swife.ThecompletedefeatofeveryattempttotracethelostmanhadbeenacceptedasfinalbyMrs.Ferrari.Shehaddeliberatelyarrayedherselfinwidow’smourning;andwasearningherlivelihoodinanemploymentwhichtheunweariedkindnessofAgneshadprocuredforherinLondon.ThelastchanceofpenetratingthemysteryofFerrari’sdisappearanceseemedtorestnowonwhatFerrari’sformerfellow-servantmightbeabletotell.Withhighly-wroughtexpectations,AgnesfollowedherfriendintotheroominwhichMrs.Rollandwaswaiting.
Atallbonywoman,intheautumnoflife,withsunkeneyesandiron-greyhair,rosestifflyfromherchair,andsalutedtheladieswithsternsubmissionastheyopenedthedoor.Apersonofunblemishedcharacter,evidently—butnotwithoutvisibledrawbacks.Bigbushyeyebrows,anawfullydeepandsolemnvoice,aharshunbendingmanner,acompleteabsenceinherfigureoftheundulatinglinescharacteristicofthesex,presentedVirtueinthisexcellentpersonunderitsleastalluringaspect.Strangers,onafirstintroductiontoher,wereaccustomedtowonderwhyshewasnotaman.
’Areyouprettywell,Mrs.Rolland?’
’IamaswellasIcanexpecttobe,mylady,atmytimeoflife.’
’IsthereanythingIcandoforyou?’
’Yourladyshipcandomeagreatfavour,ifyouwillpleasespeaktomycharacterwhileIwasinyourservice.Iamofferedaplace,towaitonaninvalidladywhohaslatelycometoliveinthisneighbourhood.
