Готель з привидами

           Itoldherplainlythattheheadhadbeenplacedunderthecareofthepolice,andthatthemanagerandIhadsignedourdeclarationsandgivenourevidence.Shepaidnottheslightestheedtome.Bywayoftemptinghertospeak,Iaddedthatthewholeinvestigationwastobekeptasecret,andthatshemightdependonmydiscretion.ForthemomentIthoughtIhadsucceeded.Shelookedupfromherwritingwithapassingflashofcuriosity,andsaid,"Whataretheygoingtodowithit?"—meaning,Isuppose,thehead.Iansweredthatitwastobeprivatelyburied,afterphotographsofithadfirstbeentaken.Ievenwentthelengthofcommunicatingtheopinionofthesurgeonconsulted,thatsomechemicalmeansofarrestingdecompositionhadbeenusedandhadonlypartiallysucceeded—andIaskedherpoint-blankifthesurgeonwasright?Thetrapwasnotabadone—butitcompletelyfailed.Shesaidinthecoolestmanner,"Nowyouarehere,Ishouldliketoconsultyouaboutmyplay;Iamatalossforsomenewincidents."Mind!therewasnothingsatiricalinthis.Shewasreallyeagertoreadherwonderfulworktome—evidentlysupposingthatItookaspecialinterestinsuchthings,becausemybrotheristhemanagerofatheatre!Ilefther,makingthefirstexcusethatoccurredtome.SofarasIamconcerned,Icandonothingwithher.Butitispossiblethatyourinfluencemaysucceedwithheragain,asithassucceededalready.Willyoumaketheattempt,tosatisfyyourownmind?Sheisstillupstairs;andIamquitereadytoaccompanyyou.