Готель з привидами

           InquiringforhisParisianfriends,hewasinformedthatboththeFrenchgentlemenhadleftforMilan.Ashecrossedthehall,onhiswaytotherestaurant,henoticedtheheadporterchalkingthenumbersoftheroomsonsomearticlesofluggagewhichwerewaitingtogoupstairs.Onetrunkattractedhisattentionbytheextraordinarynumberofoldtravellinglabelsleftonit.Theporterwasmarkingitatthemoment—andthenumberwas,’13A.’Francisinstantlylookedatthecardfastenedonthelid.ItborethecommonEnglishname,’Mrs.James’!Heatonceinquiredaboutthelady.Shehadarrivedearlythatmorning,andshewasthenintheReadingRoom.Lookingintotheroom,hediscoveredaladyinitalone.Advancingalittlenearer,hefoundhimselffacetofacewiththeCountess.

           Shewasseatedinadarkcorner,withherheaddownandherarmscrossedoverherbosom.’Yes,’shesaid,inatoneofwearyimpatience,beforeFranciscouldspeaktoher.’Ithoughtitbestnottowaitforyou—Ideterminedtogetherebeforeanybodyelsecouldtaketheroom.’

           ’Haveyoutakenitforlong?’Francisasked.

           ’YoutoldmeMissLockwoodwouldbehereinaweek’stime.Ihavetakenitforaweek.’

           ’WhathasMissLockwoodtodowithit?’

           ’Shehaseverythingtodowithit—shemustsleepintheroom.Ishallgivetheroomuptoherwhenshecomeshere.’

           Francisbegantounderstandthesuperstitiouspurposethatshehadinview.’Areyou(aneducatedwoman)reallyofthesameopinionasmysister’smaid!’heexclaimed.