Готель з привидами
Chapter XX
Notriflingeventwillbringustogether.IsaidImightbethepersonwhotoldherwhathadbecomeofFerrari,ifsheforcedmetoit.ShallIfeelsomeotherinfluencethanhers?Willheforcemetoit?Whensheseeshim,shallIseehimtoo?’
Herheadsankalittle;herheavyeyelidsdroppedslowly;sheheavedalonglowwearysigh.Francisputherarminhis,andmadeanattempttorouseher.
’Come,Countess,youarewearyandover-wrought.Wehavehadenoughtalkingto-night.Letmeseeyousafebacktoyourhotel.Isitfarfromhere?’
Shestartedwhenhemoved,andobligedhertomovewithhim,asifhehadsuddenlyawakenedheroutofadeepsleep.
’Notfar,’shesaidfaintly.’Theoldhotelonthequay.Mymind’sinastrangestate;Ihaveforgottenthename.’
’Danieli’s?’
’Yes!’
Heledheronslowly.SheaccompaniedhiminsilenceasfarastheendofthePiazzetta.There,whenthefullviewofthemoonlitLagoonrevealeditself,shestoppedhimasheturnedtowardstheRivadegliSchiavoni.’Ihavesomethingtoaskyou.Iwanttowaitandthink.’
Sherecoveredherlostidea,afteralongpause.
’Areyougoingtosleepintheroomto-night?’sheasked.
Hetoldherthatanothertravellerwasinpossessionoftheroomthatnight.’Butthemanagerhasreserveditformeto-morrow,’headded,’ifIwishtohaveit.’
’No,’shesaid.’Youmustgiveitup.’
’Towhom?’
’Tome!’
Hestarted.’AfterwhatIhavetoldyou,doyoureallywishtosleepinthatroomto-morrownight?’
’Imustsleepinit.’
’Areyounotafraid?’
’Iamhorriblyafraid.
