Готель з привидами

           ’Theyknownothingofouradventuresatthehotel,’Henrywrote;’andtheyhavetelegraphedtothemanagerfortheaccommodationthattheywant.TherewouldbesomethingabsurdlysuperstitiousinourgivingthemawarningwhichwouldfrightentheladiesandchildrenoutofthebesthotelinVenice.Weshallbeastrongpartythistime—toostrongapartyforghosts!Ishallmeetthetravellersontheirarrival,ofcourse,andtrymyluckagainatwhatyoucalltheHauntedHotel.ArthurBarvilleandhiswifehavealreadygotasfarontheirwayasTrent;andtwoofthelady’srelationshavearrangedtoaccompanythemonthejourneytoVenice.’

           NaturallyindignantattheconductofhisParisiancolleague,FrancismadehispreparationsforreturningtoMilanbythetrainofthatday.

           Onhiswayout,heaskedthemanagerifhisbrother’stelegramhadbeenreceived.Thetelegramhadarrived,and,tothesurpriseofFrancis,theroomswerealreadyreserved.’Ithoughtyouwouldrefusetoletanymoreofthefamilyintothehouse,’hesaidsatirically.Themanageranswered(withtheduedashofrespect)inthesametone.’Number13Aissafe,sir,intheoccupationofastranger.IamtheservantoftheCompany;andIdarenotturnmoneyoutofthehotel.’

           Hearingthis,Francissaidgood-bye—andsaidnothingmore.Hewasashamedtoacknowledgeittohimself,buthefeltanirresistiblecuriositytoknowwhatwouldhappenwhenAgnesarrivedatthehotel.Besides,’Mrs.James’hadreposedaconfidenceinhim.Hegotintohisgondola,respectingtheconfidenceof’Mrs.James