Готель з привидами

           ’

           IntroducedtoNumberFourteen,thedoctorlookedroundhimwithacertainappearanceofinterestwhichwasnoticedbyeveryonepresent.’ThelasttimeIwasinthisroom,’hesaid,’wasonamelancholyoccasion.Itwasbeforethepalacewaschangedintoanhotel.IwasinprofessionalattendanceonanEnglishnoblemanwhodiedhere.’Oneofthepersonspresentinquiredthenameofthenobleman.DoctorBrunoanswered(withouttheslightestsuspicionthathewasspeakingbeforeabrotherofthedeadman),’LordMontbarry.’

           Henryquietlylefttheroom,withoutsayingawordtoanybody.

           Hewasnot,inanysenseoftheterm,asuperstitiousman.Buthefelt,nevertheless,aninsurmountablereluctancetoremaininginthehotel.HedecidedonleavingVenice.Toaskforanotherroomwouldbe,ashecouldplainlysee,anoffenceintheeyesofthemanager.Toremovetoanotherhotel,wouldbetoopenlyabandonanestablishmentinthesuccessofwhichhehadapecuniaryinterest.LeavinganoteforArthurBarville,onhisarrivalinVenice,inwhichhemerelymentionedthathehadgonetolookattheItalianlakes,andthatalineaddressedtohishotelatMilanwouldbringhimbackagain,hetooktheafternoontraintoPadua—anddinedwithhisusualappetite,andsleptaswellaseverthatnight.

           Thenextday,agentlemanandhiswife(perfectstrangerstotheMontbarryfamily),returningtoEnglandbywayofVenice,arrivedatthehotelandoccupiedNumberFourteen.