Готель з привидами

           ButwhatIdonotunderstandis,thatIshouldhavepassedthroughthatdreadfulordeal;havingnopreviousknowledgeofthemurderedmaninhislifetime,oronlyknowinghim(ifyousupposethatIsawtheapparitionofFerrari)throughtheinterestwhichItookinhiswife.Ican’tdisputeyourreasoning,Henry.ButIfeelinmyheartofheartsthatyouaredeceived.Nothingwillshakemybeliefthatwearestillasfarfromhavingdiscoveredthedreadfultruthasever.’

           Henrymadenofurtherattempttodisputewithher.Shehadimpressedhimwithacertainreluctantrespectforherownopinion,inspiteofhimself.

           ’Haveyouthoughtofanybetterwayofarrivingatthetruth?’heasked.’Whoistohelpus?NodoubtthereistheCountess,whohasthecluetothemysteryinherownhands.But,inthepresentstateofhermind,ishertestimonytobetrusted—evenifshewerewillingtospeak?Judgingbymyownexperience,Ishouldsaydecidedlynot.’

           ’Youdon’tmeanthatyouhaveseenheragain?’Agneseagerlyinterposed.

           ’Yes.Idisturbedheroncemoreoverherendlesswriting;andIinsistedonherspeakingoutplainly.’

           ’Thenyoutoldherwhatyoufoundwhenyouopenedthehiding-place?’

           ’OfcourseIdid!’Henryreplied.’IsaidthatIheldherresponsibleforthediscovery,thoughIhadnotmentionedherconnectionwithittotheauthoritiesasyet.ShewentonwithherwritingasifIhadspokeninanunknowntongue!Iwasequallyobstinate,onmyside.