Готель з привидами

           WhilethetopicoftheCountess’smarriagewasstilltheonetopicofconversation,amemberoftheclubenteredthesmoking-roomwhoseappearanceinstantlyproducedadeadsilence.DoctorWybrow’snextneighbourwhisperedtohim,’Montbarry’sbrother—HenryWestwick!’

           Thenew-comerlookedroundhimslowly,withabittersmile.

           ’Youarealltalkingofmybrother,’hesaid.’Don’tmindme.NotoneofyoucandespisehimmoreheartilythanIdo.Goon,gentlemen—goon!’

           Butonemanpresenttookthespeakerathisword.ThatmanwasthelawyerwhohadalreadyundertakenthedefenceoftheCountess.

           ’Istandaloneinmyopinion,’hesaid,’andIamnotashamedofrepeatingitinanybody’shearing.IconsidertheCountessNaronatobeacruelly-treatedwoman.Whyshouldn’tshebeLordMontbarry’swife?Whocansayshehasamercenarymotiveinmarryinghim?’

           Montbarry’sbrotherturnedsharplyonthespeaker.’Isayit!’heanswered.

           Thereplymighthaveshakensomemen.Thelawyerstoodonhisgroundasfirmlyasever.

           ’IbelieveIamright,’herejoined,’instatingthathislordship’sincomeisnotmorethansufficienttosupporthisstationinlife;alsothatitisanincomederivedalmostentirelyfromlandedpropertyinIreland,everyacreofwhichisentailed.’

           Montbarry’sbrothermadeasign,admittingthathehadnoobjectiontooffersofar.

           ’Ifhislordshipdiesfirst,’thelawyerproceeded,’Ihavebeeninformedthattheonlyprovisionhecanmakeforhiswidowconsistsinarent-chargeonthepropertyofnomorethanfourhundredayear.