Готель з привидами
Chapter XX
’
’SoIshouldhavethought,afterwhatIhaveobservedinyouto-night.Whyshouldyoutaketheroom?Youarenotobligedtooccupyit,unlessyoulike.’
’IwasnotobligedtogotoVenice,whenIleftAmerica,’sheanswered.’AndyetIcamehere.Imusttaketheroom,andkeeptheroom,until—’Shebrokeoffatthosewords.’Nevermindtherest,’shesaid.’Itdoesn’tinterestyou.’
Itwasuselesstodisputewithher.Francischangedthesubject.’Wecandonothingto-night,’hesaid.’Iwillcallonyouto-morrowmorning,andhearwhatyouthinkofitthen.’
Theymovedonagaintothehotel.Astheyapproachedthedoor,FrancisaskedifshewasstayinginVeniceunderherownname.
Sheshookherhead.’Asyourbrother’swidow,Iamknownhere.AsCountessNarona,Iamknownhere.Iwanttobeunknown,thistime,tostrangersinVenice;IamtravellingunderacommonEnglishname.’Shehesitated,andstoodstill.’Whathascometome?’shemutteredtoherself.’SomethingsIremember;andsomeIforget.IforgotDanieli’s—andnowIforgetmyEnglishname.’Shedrewhimhurriedlyintothehallofthehotel,onthewallofwhichhungalistofvisitors’names.Runningherfingerslowlydownthelist,shepointedtotheEnglishnamethatshehadassumed:—’Mrs.James.’
’Rememberthatwhenyoucallto-morrow,’shesaid.’Myheadisheavy.Goodnight.’
Franciswentbacktohisownhotel,wonderingwhattheeventsofthenextdaywouldbringforth.Anewturninhisaffairshadtakenplaceinhisabsence.
