Готель з привидами

           Inthequieterflowofherthoughtsduringthisinterval,shecouldaskherselfthenaturalquestion:—Whatcausehadawakenedhersosuddenly,andhadsostrangelyshakenhernerves?Haditbeentheinfluenceofadream?Shehadnotdreamedatall—or,tospeakmorecorrectly,shehadnowakingremembranceofhavingdreamed.Themysterywasbeyondherfathoming:thedarknessbegantooppressher.Shestruckthematchonthebox,andlithercandle.

           Asthewelcomelightdiffuseditselfovertheroom,sheturnedfromthetableandlookedtowardstheothersideofthebed.

           Inthemomentwhensheturned,thechillofasuddenterrorgrippedherroundtheheart,aswiththeclaspofanicyhand.

           Shewasnotaloneinherroom!

           There—inthechairatthebedside—there,suddenlyrevealedundertheflowoflightfromthecandle,wasthefigureofawoman,reclining.Herheadlaybackoverthechair.Herface,turneduptotheceiling,hadtheeyesclosed,asifshewaswrappedinadeepsleep.

           TheshockofthediscoveryheldAgnesspeechlessandhelpless.Herfirstconsciousaction,whenshewasinsomedegreemistressofherselfagain,wastoleanoverthebed,andtolookcloseratthewomanwhohadsoincomprehensiblystolenintoherroominthedeadofnight.Oneglancewasenough:shestartedbackwithacryofamazement.ThepersoninthechairwasnootherthanthewidowofthedeadMontbarry—thewomanwhohadwarnedherthattheyweretomeetagain,andthattheplacemightbeVenice!

           Hercouragereturnedtoher,stungintoactionbythenaturalsenseofindignationwhichthepresenceoftheCountessprovoked.