Готель з привидами

           IfIcouldhavegottothedoor,Iwouldhaverunoutoftheroom,shefrightenedmeso!Iwasnotevenabletostandup—Isankbackinmychair;Istaredhorror-struckatthecalmblueeyesthatwereonlylookingatmewithagentlesurprise.Tosaytheyaffectedmeliketheeyesofaserpentistosaynothing.Ifelthersoulinthem,lookingintomine—looking,ifsuchathingcanbe,unconsciouslytoherownmortalself.Itellyoumyimpression,inallitshorrorandinallitsfolly!Thatwomanisdestined(withoutknowingitherself)tobetheevilgeniusofmylife.HerinnocenteyessawhiddencapabilitiesofwickednessinmethatIwasnotawareofmyself,untilIfeltthemstirringunderherlook.IfIcommitfaultsinmylifetocome—ifIamevenguiltyofcrimes—shewillbringtheretribution,without(asIfirmlybelieve)anyconsciousexerciseofherownwill.InoneindescribablemomentIfeltallthis—andIsupposemyfaceshowedit.Thegoodartlesscreaturewasinspiredbyasortofgentlealarmforme."Iamafraidtheheatoftheroomistoomuchforyou;willyoutrymysmellingbottle?"Iheardhersaythosekindwords;andIremembernothingelse—Ifainted.WhenIrecoveredmysenses,thecompanyhadallgone;onlytheladyofthehousewaswithme.ForthemomentIcouldsaynothingtoher;thedreadfulimpressionthatIhavetriedtodescribetoyoucamebacktomewiththecomingbackofmylife.AssoonIcouldspeak,IimploredhertotellmethewholetruthaboutthewomanwhomIhadsupplanted.