Готель з привидами

           ’Yousee?’saidtheCountess,pointingtothecarvedfigureatthefire-place;’andyouknowwhattodo.HaveIdeservedthatyoushouldtemperjusticewithmercy?’shewentoninlowertones.’Givemeafewhoursmoretomyself.TheBaronwantsmoney—Imustgetonwithmyplay.’

           Shesmiledvacantly,andimitatedtheactionofwritingwithherrighthandasshepronouncedthelastwords.TheeffortofconcentratingherweakenedmindonotherandlessfamiliartopicsthantheconstantwantofmoneyintheBaron’slifetime,andthevagueprospectofgainfromthestillunfinishedplay,hadevidentlyexhaustedherpoorreservesofstrength.Whenherrequesthadbeengranted,sheaddressednoexpressionsofgratitudetoAgnes;sheonlysaid,’Feelnofear,miss,ofmyattemptingtoescapeyou.Whereyouare,thereImustbetilltheendcomes.’

           Hereyeswanderedroundtheroomwithalastwearyandstupefiedlook.Shereturnedtoherwritingwithslowandfeeblesteps,likethestepsofanoldwoman.