Готель з привидами

           ’Wakeup!’shecalledout.’Howdareyoucomehere?Howdidyougetin?Leavetheroom—orIwillcallforhelp!’

           Sheraisedhervoiceatthelastwords.Itproducednoeffect.Leaningfartheroverthebed,sheboldlytooktheCountessbytheshoulderandshookher.Noteventhiseffortsucceededinrousingthesleepingwoman.Shestilllaybackinthechair,possessedbyatorporlikethetorporofdeath—insensibletosound,insensibletotouch.Wasshereallysleeping?Orhadshefainted?

           Agneslookedcloserather.Shehadnotfainted.Herbreathingwasaudible,risingandfallingindeepheavygasps.Atintervalsshegroundherteethsavagely.Beadsofperspirationstoodthicklyonherforehead.Herclenchedhandsroseandfellslowlyfromtimetotimeonherlap.Wassheintheagonyofadream?orwasshespirituallyconsciousofsomethinghiddenintheroom?

           Thedoubtinvolvedinthatlastquestionwasunendurable.Agnesdeterminedtorousetheservantswhokeptwatchinthehotelatnight.

           Thebell-handlewasfixedtothewall,onthesideofthebedbywhichthetablestood.

           SheraisedherselffromthecrouchingpositionwhichshehadassumedinlookingcloseattheCountess;and,turningtowardstheothersideofthebed,stretchedoutherhandtothebell.Atthesameinstant,shestoppedandlookedupward.Herhandfellhelplesslyatherside.Sheshuddered,andsankbackonthepillow.

           Whathadsheseen?

           Shehadseenanotherintruderinherroom.

           Midwaybetweenherfaceandtheceiling,therehoveredahumanhead—severedattheneck,likeaheadstruckfromthebodybytheguillotine.