Готель з привидами

           Afterwishingthemgoodnight,hewaitedinthecorridoruntilhesawthementerthefatalcorner-room—andthenhecalledabruptlytohisbrother,’Comeout,Stephen,andletussmoke!’

           Assoonasthetwobrotherswereatlibertytospeaktogetherprivately,Henryexplainedthemotivewhichhadledtohisstrangeinquiriesaboutthebedrooms.FrancishadinformedhimofthemeetingwiththeCountessatVenice,andofallthathadfollowedit;andHenrynowcarefullyrepeatedthenarrativetohisbrotherinallitsdetails.’Iamnotsatisfied,’headded,’aboutthatwoman’spurposeingivingupherroom.WithoutalarmingtheladiesbytellingthemwhatIhavejusttoldyou,canyounotwarnAgnestobecarefulinsecuringherdoor?’

           LordMontbarryreplied,thatthewarninghadbeenalreadygivenbyhiswife,andthatAgnesmightbetrustedtotakegoodcareofherselfandherlittlebed-fellow.Fortherest,helookeduponthestoryoftheCountessandhersuperstitionsasapieceoftheatricalexaggeration,amusingenoughinitself,butunworthyofamoment’sseriousattention.

           Whilethegentlemenwereabsentfromthehotel,theroomwhichhadbeenalreadyassociatedwithsomanystartlingcircumstances,becamethesceneofanotherstrangeeventinwhichLadyMontbarry’seldestchildwasconcerned.

           LittleMarianhadbeengotreadyforbedasusual,andhad(sofar)takenhardlyanynoticeofthenewroom.Asshekneltdowntosayherprayers,shehappenedtolookupatthatpartoftheceilingaboveherwhichwasjustovertheheadofthebed.