Готель з привидами

           Stillmindfuloftheslurthathadbeencastononeofhisbestbedchambers,themanagertookoccasiontoaskthetravellersthenextmorninghowtheylikedtheirroom.Theylefthimtojudgeforhimselfhowwelltheyweresatisfied,byremainingadaylongerinVenicethantheyhadoriginallyplannedtodo,solelyforthepurposeofenjoyingtheexcellentaccommodationofferedtothembythenewhotel.’WehavemetwithnothinglikeitinItaly,’theysaid;’youmayrelyonourrecommendingyoutoallourfriends.’

           OnthedaywhenNumberFourteenwasagainvacant,anEnglishladytravellingalonewithhermaidarrivedatthehotel,sawtheroom,andatonceengagedit.

           TheladywasMrs.Norbury.ShehadleftFrancisWestwickatMilan,occupiedinnegotiatingfortheappearanceathistheatreofthenewdancerattheScala.Nothavingheardtothecontrary,Mrs.NorburysupposedthatArthurBarvilleandhiswifehadalreadyarrivedatVenice.Shewasmoreinterestedinmeetingtheyoungmarriedcouplethaninawaitingtheresultofthehardbargainingwhichdelayedtheengagementofthenewdancer;andshevolunteeredtomakeherbrother’sapologies,ifhistheatricalbusinesscausedhimtobelateinkeepinghisappointmentatthehoneymoonfestival.

           Mrs.Norbury’sexperienceofNumberFourteendifferedentirelyfromherbrotherHenry’sexperienceoftheroom.

           Fallingasleepasreadilyasusual,herreposewasdisturbedbyasuccessionoffrightfuldreams;thecentralfigureineveryoneofthembeingthefigureofherdeadbrother,thefirstLordMontbarry.