Готель з привидами

           Reportwhisperedthathisso-calledsisterhadnarrowlyescapedbeingimplicatedinafamoustrialforpoisoningatVienna—thatshehadbeenknownatMilanasaspyintheinterestsofAustria—thather’apartment’inParishadbeendenouncedtothepoliceasnothinglessthanaprivategambling-house—andthatherpresentappearanceinEnglandwasthenaturalresultofthediscovery.Onlyonememberoftheassemblyinthesmoking-roomtookthepartofthismuch-abusedwoman,anddeclaredthathercharacterhadbeenmostcruellyandmostunjustlyassailed.Butasthemanwasalawyer,hisinterferencewentfornothing:itwasnaturallyattributedtothespiritofcontradictioninherentinhisprofession.HewasaskedderisivelywhathethoughtofthecircumstancesunderwhichtheCountesshadbecomeengagedtobemarried;andhemadethecharacteristicanswer,thathethoughtthecircumstanceshighlycreditabletobothparties,andthathelookedonthelady’sfuturehusbandasamostenviableman.

           Hearingthis,theDoctorraisedanothershoutofastonishmentbyinquiringthenameofthegentlemanwhomtheCountesswasabouttomarry.

           Hisfriendsinthesmoking-roomdecidedunanimouslythatthecelebratedphysicianmustbeasecond’Rip-van-Winkle,’andthathehadjustawakenedfromasupernaturalsleepoftwentyyears.Itwasallverywelltosaythathewasdevotedtohisprofession,andthathehadneithertimenorinclinationtopickupfragmentsofgossipatdinner-partiesandballs.