Готель з привидами

           ’Haveyouseenherthismorning?’

           ’Ihaveseenhernottenminutessince.’

           ’Whatwasshedoing?’

           ’Shewasbusilyengagedinwriting.IcouldnotevengethertolookatmeuntilIthoughtofmentioningyourname.’

           ’Sherememberedme,ofcourse?’

           ’Sherememberedyouwithsomedifficulty.Findingthatshewouldn’tanswermeonanyotherterms,IquestionedherasifIhadcomedirectfromyou.Thenshespoke.ShenotonlyadmittedthatshehadthesamesuperstitiousmotiveforplacingyouinthatroomwhichshehadacknowledgedtoFrancis—sheevenownedthatshehadbeenbyyourbedside,watchingthroughthenight,"toseewhatyousaw,"assheexpressedit.Hearingthis,Itriedtopersuadehertotellmehowshegotintotheroom.Unluckily,hermanuscriptonthetablecaughthereye;shereturnedtoherwriting."TheBaronwantsmoney,"shesaid;"Imustgetonwithmyplay."Whatshesawordreamedwhileshewasinyourroomlastnight,itisatpresentimpossibletodiscover.Butjudgingbymybrother’saccountofher,aswellasbywhatIrememberofhermyself,somerecentinfluencehasbeenatworkwhichhasproducedamarkedchangeinthiswretchedwomanfortheworse.Hermind(sincelastnight,perhaps)ispartiallyderanged.OneproofofitisthatshespoketomeoftheBaronasifhewerestillalivingman.WhenFrancissawher,shedeclaredthattheBaronwasdead,whichisthetruth.TheUnitedStatesConsulatMilanshowedustheannouncementofthedeathinanAmericannewspaper.