Готель з привидами

           Hestretchedhimselfatfulllengthonthefloor,andpassedhisrightarmintothecavity.’Ican’tsayexactlywhatIhavegotholdof,’hesaid.’ButIhavegotit.’

           Halfraisinghimself,hedrewhishandout.

           Thenextinstant,hestartedtohisfeetwithashriekofterror.Ahumanheaddroppedfromhisnervelessgrasponthefloor,androlledtoHenry’sfeet.ItwasthehideousheadthatAgneshadseenhoveringaboveher,inthevisionofthenight!

           Thetwomenlookedateachother,bothstruckspeechlessbythesameemotionofhorror.Themanagerwasthefirsttocontrolhimself.’Seetothedoor,forGod’ssake!’hesaid.’Someofthepeopleoutsidemayhaveheardme.’

           Henrymovedmechanicallytothedoor.

           Evenwhenhehadhishandonthekey,readytoturnitinthelockincaseofnecessity,hestilllookedbackattheappallingobjectonthefloor.Therewasnopossibilityofidentifyingthosedecayedanddistortedfeatureswithanylivingcreaturewhomhehadseen—and,yet,hewasconsciousoffeelingavagueandawfuldoubtwhichshookhimtothesoul.ThequestionswhichhadtorturedthemindofAgnes,werenowhisquestionstoo.Heaskedhimself,’InwhoselikenessmightIhaverecogniseditbeforethedecaysetin?ThelikenessofFerrari?orthelikenessof—?’Hepausedtrembling,asAgneshadpausedtremblingbeforehim.Agnes!Thename,ofallwomen’snamesthedearesttohim,wasaterrortohimnow!Whatwashetosaytoher?Whatmightbetheconsequenceifhetrustedherwiththeterribletruth?

           Nofootstepsapproachedthedoor;novoiceswereaudibleoutside.