Готель з привидами

           Rollandliftedherlargehands,coveredwithrustyblackgloves,inmuteprotestagainsttheintroductionofBaronRivarasasubjectofinquiry.’Areyouaware,Miss,’shebegan,’thatIleftmyplaceinconsequenceofwhatIobserved—?’

           Agnesstoppedherthere.’Ionlywantedtoask,’sheexplained,’ifanythingwassaidordonebyBaronRivarwhichmightaccountforFerrari’sstrangeconduct.’

           ’NothingthatIknowof,’saidMrs.Rolland.’TheBaronandMr.Ferrari(ifImayusesuchanexpression)were"birdsofafeather,"sofarasIcouldsee—Imean,onewasasunprincipledastheother.Iamajustwoman;andIwillgiveyouanexample.OnlythedaybeforeIleft,IheardtheBaronsay(throughtheopendoorofhisroomwhileIwaspassingalongthecorridor),"Ferrari,Iwantathousandpounds.Whatwouldyoudoforathousandpounds?"AndIheardMr.Ferrarianswer,"Anything,sir,aslongasIwasnotfoundout."Andthentheybothburstoutlaughing.Iheardnomorethanthat.Judgeforyourself,Miss.’

           Agnesreflectedforamoment.AthousandpoundswasthesumthathadbeensenttoMrs.Ferrariintheanonymousletter.Wasthatenclosureinanywayconnected,asaresult,withtheconversationbetweentheBaronandFerrari?ItwasuselesstopressanymoreinquiriesonMrs.Rolland.Shecouldgivenofurtherinformationwhichwasoftheslightestimportancetotheobjectinview.Therewasnoalternativebuttograntherdismissal.Onemoreefforthadbeenmadetofindatraceofthelostman,andonceagaintheefforthadfailed