Готель з привидами

           Hetooknointerestatwhathappenedattheinterview,butsomethingstruckhiminmywayofrelatingit.Hesaid,"Youdescribewhatpassedbetweenyouandtheladywiththepointandcontrastofgoodstagedialogue.Youhavethedramaticinstinct—tryifyoucanwriteaplay.Youmightmakemoney."Thatputitintomyhead.’

           ThoselastwordsseemedtostartleFrancis.’Surelyyoudon’twantmoney!’heexclaimed.

           ’Ialwayswantmoney.Mytastesareexpensive.Ihavenothingbutmypoorlittlefourhundredayear—andthewreckthatisleftoftheothermoney:abouttwohundredpoundsincircularnotes—nomore.’

           Francisknewthatshewasreferringtothetenthousandpoundspaidbytheinsuranceoffices.’Allthosethousandsgonealready!’heexclaimed.

           Sheblewalittlepuffofairoverherfingers.’Gonelikethat!’sheansweredcoolly.

           ’BaronRivar?’

           Shelookedathimwithaflashofangerinherhardblackeyes.

           ’Myaffairsaremyownsecret,Mr.Westwick.Ihavemadeyouaproposal—andyouhavenotansweredmeyet.Don’tsayNo,withoutthinkingfirst.Rememberwhatalifeminehasbeen.Ihaveseenmoreoftheworldthanmostpeople,playwrightsincluded.Ihavehadstrangeadventures;Ihaveheardremarkablestories;Ihaveobserved;Ihaveremembered.Aretherenomaterials,hereinmyhead,forwritingaplay—iftheopportunityisgrantedtome?’Shewaitedamoment,andsuddenlyrepeatedherstrangequestionaboutAgnes.