Готель з привидами

           CansuchawomanasAgnesgiveherloveorrefuseit,accordingtocircumstances?Becausethemanwasunworthyofher,washelessthemanofherchoice?Thetruestandbestfriendtohim(littleashedeservedit)inhislifetime,shenaturallyremainsthetruestandbestfriendtohismemorynow.Ifyoureallyloveher,wait;andtrusttoyourtwobestfriends—totimeandtome.Thereismyadvice;letyourownexperiencedecidewhetheritisnotthebestadvicethatIcanoffer.ResumeyourjourneytoVeniceto-morrow;andwhenyoutakeleaveofAgnes,speaktoherascordiallyasifnothinghadhappened.’

           Henrywiselyfollowedthisadvice.Thoroughlyunderstandinghim,Agnesmadetheleave-takingfriendlyandpleasantonherside.Whenhestoppedatthedoorforalastlookather,shehurriedlyturnedherheadsothatherfacewashiddenfromhim.Wasthatagoodsign?LadyMontbarry,accompanyingHenrydownthestairs,said,’Yes,decidedly!WritewhenyougettoVenice.WeshallwaitheretoreceivelettersfromArthurandhiswife,andweshalltimeourdepartureforItalyaccordingly.’

           Aweekpassed,andnolettercamefromHenry.Somedayslater,atelegramwasreceivedfromhim.ItwasdespatchedfromMilan,insteadoffromVenice;anditbroughtthisstrangemessage:—’Ihaveleftthehotel.WillreturnonthearrivalofArthurandhiswife.Address,meanwhile,AlbergoReale,Milan