Готель з привидами
Chapter XVII
Inmyopinion,nomemberofyourfamilycanhopetobehappyorcomfortableinthishouse.’
’Whatdoyoumean?’
’Pleasetoletmeexplainmyself,ma’am.WhenMr.HenryWestwickwashere(Ihavethisfromthevalet,too)heoccupiedtheroomhisbrotherdiedin(withoutknowingit),likeyou.Fortwonightsheneverclosedhiseyes.Withoutanyreasonforit(thevaletheardhimtellthegentlemeninthecoffee-room)hecouldnotsleep;hefeltsolowandsowretchedinhimself.Andwhatismore,whendaytimecame,hecouldn’teveneatwhilehewasunderthisroof.Youmaylaughatme,ma’am—butevenaservantmaydrawherownconclusions.It’smyconclusionthatsomethinghappenedtomylord,whichwenoneofusknowabout,whenhediedinthishouse.Hisghostwalksintormentuntilhecantellit—andthelivingpersonsrelatedtohimarethepersonswhofeelheisnearthem.Thosepersonsmayyetseehiminthetimetocome.Don’t,praydon’tstayanylongerinthisdreadfulplace!Iwouldn’tstayanothernightheremyself—no,notforanythingthatcouldbeofferedme!’
Mrs.Norburyatoncesetherservant’smindateaseonthislastpoint.
’Idon’tthinkaboutitasyoudo,’shesaidgravely.’ButIshouldliketospeaktomybrotherofwhathashappened.WewillgobacktoMilan.’
Somehoursnecessarilyelapsedbeforetheycouldleavethehotel,bythefirsttrainintheforenoon.
Inthatinterval,Mrs.Norbury’smaidfoundanopportunityofconfidentiallyinformingthevaletofwhathadpassedbetweenhermistressandherself.
