Готель з привидами
Chapter XIX
Themoonlightwasbrightenoughtoshowthearchitectureofthegrandcathedralinitswonderfulvarietyofdetail.EventhepigeonsofSt.Markwerevisible,indarkcloselypackedrows,roostinginthearchwaysofthegreatentrancedoors.
’Ineversawtheoldchurchlooksobeautifulbymoonlight,’theCountesssaidquietly;speaking,nottoFrancis,buttoherself.’Good-bye,St.Mark’sbymoonlight!Ishallnotseeyouagain.’
Sheturnedawayfromthechurch,andsawFrancislisteningtoherwithwonderinglooks.’No,’sheresumed,placidlypickingupthelostthreadoftheconversation,’Idon’tknowwhyMissLockwoodiscominghere,IonlyknowthatwearetomeetinVenice.’
’Bypreviousappointment?’
’ByDestiny,’sheanswered,withherheadonherbreast,andhereyesontheground.Francisburstoutlaughing.’Or,ifyoulikeitbetter,’sheinstantlyresumed,’bywhatfoolscallChance.’Francisansweredeasily,outofthedepthsofhisstrongcommonsense.’Chanceseemstobetakingaqueerwayofbringingthemeetingabout,’hesaid.’WehaveallarrangedtomeetatthePalaceHotel.HowisitthatyournameisnotontheVisitors’List?DestinyoughttohavebroughtyoutothePalaceHoteltoo.’
Sheabruptlypulleddownherveil.’Destinymaydothatyet!’shesaid.’ThePalaceHotel?’sherepeated,speakingoncemoretoherself.’Theoldhell,transformedintothenewpurgatory.Theplaceitself!JesuMaria!theplaceitself!’Shepausedandlaidherhandonhercompanion’sarm.
