Готель з привидами

           Whiletheterribledramaofdiscoverywasinprogressononesideofthedoor,trivialquestionsabouttheamusementsofVenice,andfacetiousdiscussionsontherelativemeritsofFrenchandItaliancookery,wereproceedingontheother.Littlebylittle,thesoundofthetalkinggrewfainter.Thevisitors,havingarrangedtheirplansofamusementfortheday,wereontheirwayoutofthehotel.Inaminuteortwo,therewassilenceoncemore.

           Henryturnedtothewindow,thinkingtorelievehismindbylookingatthebrightviewoverthecanal.Hesoongrewweariedofthefamiliarscene.Themorbidfascinationwhichseemstobeexercisedbyallhorriblesights,drewhimbackagaintotheghastlyobjectonthefloor.

           Dreamorreality,howhadAgnessurvivedthesightofit?Asthequestionpassedthroughhismind,henoticedforthefirsttimesomethinglyingonthefloornearthehead.Lookingcloser,heperceivedathinlittleplateofgold,withthreefalseteethattachedtoit,whichhadapparentlydroppedout(loosenedbytheshock)whenthemanagerlettheheadfallonthefloor.

           Theimportanceofthisdiscovery,andthenecessityofnottooreadilycommunicatingittoothers,instantlystruckHenry.Heresurelywasachance—ifanychanceremained—ofidentifyingtheshockingrelicofhumanitywhichlaybeforehim,thedumbwitnessofacrime!Actingonthisidea,hetookpossessionoftheteeth,purposingtousethemasalastmeansofinquirywhenotherattemptsatinvestigationhadbeentriedandhadfailed.

           Hewentbackagaintothewindow:thesolitudeoftheroombegantoweighonhisspirits.