Готель з привидами

           HenryWestwickalone?’

           AgnesinstantlyrecognisedthevoiceoftheCountess.Shehurriedtoaseconddoor,whichcommunicatedwithoneofthebedrooms.’Don’tlethercomenearme!’shewhisperednervously.’Goodnight,Henry!goodnight!’

           IfHenrycould,byaneffortofwill,havetransportedtheCountesstotheuttermostendsoftheearth,hewouldhavemadetheeffortwithoutremorse.Asitwas,heonlyrepeated,moreirritablythanever,’Comein!’

           Sheenteredtheroomslowlywithhereverlastingmanuscriptinherhand.Herstepwasunsteady;adarkflushappearedonherface,inplaceofitscustomarypallor;hereyeswerebloodshotandwidelydilated.InapproachingHenry,sheshowedastrangeincapabilityofcalculatingherdistances—shestruckagainstthetablenearwhichhehappenedtobesitting.Whenshespoke,herarticulationwasconfused,andherpronunciationofsomeofthelongerwordswashardlyintelligible.Mostmenwouldhavesuspectedherofbeingundertheinfluenceofsomeintoxicatingliquor.Henrytookatruerview—hesaid,asheplacedachairforher,’Countess,Iamafraidyouhavebeenworkingtoohard:youlookasifyouwantedrest.’

           Sheputherhandtoherhead.’Myinventionhasgone,’shesaid.’Ican’twritemyfourthact.It’sallablank—allablank!’

           Henryadvisedhertowaittillthenextday.’Gotobed,’hesuggested;’andtrytosleep.’

           Shewavedherhandimpatiently.’Imustfinishtheplay,’sheanswered.’Ionlywantahintfromyou.Youmustknowsomethingaboutplays.Yourbrotherhasgotatheatre.