Готель з привидами
Chapter XXIV
Theywillbeherebeforelong,iftheyfinditconvenienttohaveanextraroomattheirdisposal.’
ThisannouncementdecidedHenryonexploringthehiding-place,beforetheinterruptionoccurred.Ithadcrossedhismind,whenAgneslefthim,thatheoughtperhapstohaveawitness,inthenotveryprobableeventofsomealarmingdiscoverytakingplace.Thetoo-familiarmanager,suspectingnothing,wasthereathisdisposal.HeturnedagaintotheCaryanfigure,maliciouslyresolvingtomakethemanagerhiswitness.
’Iamdelightedtohearthatourfriendshavearrivedatlast,’hesaid.’BeforeIshakehandswiththem,letmeaskyouaquestionaboutthisqueerworkofarthere.Iseephotographsofitdownstairs.Aretheyforsale?’
’Certainly,Mr.Westwick!’
’Doyouthinkthechimney-pieceisassolidasitlooks?’Henryproceeded.’Whenyoucamein,Iwasjustwonderingwhetherthisfigureherehadnotaccidentallygotloosenedfromthewallbehindit.’Helaidhishandonthemarbleforehead,forthethirdtime.’Tomyeye,itlooksalittleoutoftheperpendicular.IalmostfanciedIcouldjogtheheadjustnow,whenItouchedit.’Hepressedtheheadinwardsashesaidthosewords.
Asoundofjarringironwasinstantlyaudiblebehindthewall.Thesolidhearthstoneinfrontofthefire-placeturnedslowlyatthefeetofthetwomen,anddisclosedadarkcavitybelow.Atthesamemoment,thestrangeandsickeningcombinationofodours,hithertoassociatedwiththevaultsoftheoldpalaceandwiththebed-chamberbeneath,nowfloatedupfromtheopenrecess,andfilledtheroom.
