Готель з привидами

           Thetravellerswerestilloccupiedintheroomsattheeasternendofthecorridor.

           Inthebriefintervalthathadpassed,themanagerhadsufficientlyrecoveredhimselftobeabletothinkoncemoreofthefirstandforemostinterestsofhislife—theinterestsofthehotel.HeapproachedHenryanxiously.

           ’Ifthisfrightfuldiscoverybecomesknown,’hesaid,’theclosingofthehotelandtheruinoftheCompanywillbetheinevitableresults.IfeelsurethatIcantrustyourdiscretion,sir,sofar?’

           ’Youcancertainlytrustme,’Henryanswered.’Butsurelydiscretionhasitslimits,’headded,’aftersuchadiscoveryaswehavemade?’

           Themanagerunderstoodthatthedutywhichtheyowedtothecommunity,ashonestandlaw-abidingmen,wasthedutytowhichHenrynowreferred.’Iwillatoncefindthemeans,’hesaid,’ofconveyingtheremainsprivatelyoutofthehouse,andIwillmyselfplacetheminthecareofthepoliceauthorities.Willyouleavetheroomwithme?ordoyounotobjecttokeepwatchhere,andhelpmewhenIreturn?’

           Whilehewasspeaking,thevoicesofthetravellersmadethemselvesheardagainattheendofthecorridor.Henryinstantlyconsentedtowaitintheroom.HeshrankfromfacingtheinevitablemeetingwithAgnesifheshowedhimselfinthecorridoratthatmoment.

           Themanagerhastenedhisdeparture,inthehopeofescapingnotice.Hewasdiscoveredbyhisguestsbeforehecouldreachtheheadofthestairs.Henryheardthevoicesplainlyasheturnedthekey.