Готель з привидами

           Theservanthaddisappeared;itwastoolatetocallhimback.Butonerefugefromhiscontemptforhimselfwasnowopentohim—therefugeofwork.Hegotintohiscarriageandwenthisroundsamonghispatients.

           Ifthefamousphysiciancouldhaveshakenhisownreputation,hewouldhavedoneitthatafternoon.Neverbeforehadhemadehimselfsolittlewelcomeatthebedside.Neverbeforehadheputoffuntilto-morrowtheprescriptionwhichoughttohavebeenwritten,theopinionwhichoughttohavebeengiven,to-day.Hewenthomeearlierthanusual—unutterablydissatisfiedwithhimself.

           Theservanthadreturned.Dr.Wybrowwasashamedtoquestionhim.Themanreportedtheresultofhiserrand,withoutwaitingtobeasked.

           ’Thelady’snameistheCountessNarona.Shelivesat—’

           Withoutwaitingtohearwhereshelived,theDoctoracknowledgedtheall-importantdiscoveryofhernamebyasilentbendofthehead,andenteredhisconsulting-room.Thefeethathehadvainlyrefusedstilllayinitslittlewhitepapercoveringonthetable.Hesealeditupinanenvelope;addressedittothe’Poor-box’ofthenearestpolice-court;and,callingtheservantin,directedhimtotakeittothemagistratethenextmorning.Faithfultohisduties,theservantwaitedtoaskthecustomaryquestion,’Doyoudineathometo-day,sir?’

           Afteramoment’shesitationhesaid,’No:Ishalldineattheclub.’

           Themosteasilydeterioratedofallthemoralqualitiesisthequalitycalled’conscience.’Inonestateofaman’smind,hisconscienceistheseverestjudgethatcanpasssentenceonhim