Готель з привидами

           Forthesecondtime,hewascheckedonthepointofsettingthemachineryofthehiding-placeinmotion.Onthisoccasion,theinterruptioncamefromanoutbreakoffriendlyvoicesinthecorridor.Awoman’svoiceexclaimed,’DearestAgnes,howgladIamtoseeyouagain!’Aman’svoicefollowed,offeringtointroducesomefriendto’MissLockwood.’Athirdvoice(whichHenryrecognisedasthevoiceofthemanagerofthehotel)becameaudiblenext,directingthehousekeepertoshowtheladiesandgentlementhevacantapartmentsattheotherendofthecorridor.’Ifmoreaccommodationiswanted,’themanagerwenton,’Ihaveacharmingroomtolethere.’Heopenedthedoorashespoke,andfoundhimselffacetofacewithHenryWestwick.

           ’Thisisindeedanagreeablesurprise,sir!’saidthemanagercheerfully.’Youareadmiringourfamouschimney-piece,Isee.MayIask,Mr.Westwick,howyoufindyourselfinthehotel,thistime?Havethesupernaturalinfluencesaffectedyourappetiteagain?’

           ’Thesupernaturalinfluenceshavesparedme,thistime,’Henryanswered.’Perhapsyoumayyetfindthattheyhaveaffectedsomeothermemberofthefamily.’Hespokegravely,resentingthefamiliartoneinwhichthemanagerhadreferredtohispreviousvisittothehotel.’Haveyoujustreturned?’heasked,bywayofchangingthetopic.

           ’Justthisminute,sir.Ihadthehonouroftravellinginthesametrainwithfriendsofyourswhohavearrivedatthehotel—Mr.andMrs.ArthurBarville,andtheirtravellingcompanions.MissLockwoodiswiththem,lookingattherooms.