Готель з привидами

           Sheneithermovednorspoke.Hestoopedandlookedcloserather.

           Whatimpressionhadheproduced?Itwasanimpressionwhichhisutmostingenuityhadfailedtoanticipate.Shestoodbyhisside—justasshehadstoodbeforeAgneswhenherquestionaboutFerrariwasplainlyansweredatlast—likeawomanturnedtostone.Hereyeswerevacantandrigid;allthelifeinherfacehadfadedoutofit.Francistookherbythehand.Herhandwasascoldasthepavementthattheywerestandingon.Heaskedherifshewasill.

           Notamuscleinhermoved.Hemightaswellhavespokentothedead.

           ’Surely,’hesaid,’youarenotfoolishenoughtotakewhatIhavebeentellingyouseriously?’

           Herlipsmovedslowly.Asitseemed,shewasmakinganefforttospeaktohim.

           ’Louder,’hesaid.’Ican’thearyou.’

           Shestruggledtorecoverpossessionofherself.Afaintlightbegantosoftenthedullcoldstareofhereyes.Inamomentmoreshespokesothathecouldhearher.

           ’Ineverthoughtoftheotherworld,’shemurmured,inlowdulltones,likeawomantalkinginhersleep.

           HermindhadgonebacktothedayofherlastmemorableinterviewwithAgnes;shewasslowlyrecallingtheconfessionthathadescapedher,thewarningwordswhichshehadspokenatthatpasttime.Necessarilyincapableofunderstandingthis,Francislookedatherinperplexity.Shewentoninthesamedullvacanttone,steadilyfollowingoutherowntrainofthought,withherheedlesseyesonhisface,andherwanderingmindfarawayfromhim.

           ’Isaidsometriflingeventwouldbringustogetherthenexttime.Iwaswrong.