Готель з привидами

           "Supposeyouwereaskedtodoaperfectlyeasything,"shesays;"andsupposeyouwererewardedfordoingitbyapresentofathousandpounds,asalegacyforyourwidow?"

           ’TheCourierraiseshimselfonhispillow,andlooksattheCountesswithanexpressionofincreduloussurprise.Shecanhardlybecruelenough(hethinks)tojokewithamaninhismiserableplight.Willshesayplainlywhatthisperfectlyeasythingis,thedoingofwhichwillmeetwithsuchamagnificentreward?

           ’TheCountessanswersthatquestionbyconfidingherprojecttotheCourier,withouttheslightestreserve.

           ’Someminutesofsilencefollowwhenshehasdone.TheCourierisnotweakenoughyettospeakwithoutstoppingtothinkfirst.StillkeepinghiseyesontheCountess,hemakesaquaintlyinsolentremarkonwhathehasjustheard."Ihavenothithertobeenareligiousman;butIfeelmyselfonthewaytoit.Sinceyourladyshiphasspokentome,IbelieveintheDevil."ItistheCountess’sinteresttoseethehumoroussideofthisconfessionoffaith.Shetakesnooffence.Sheonlysays,"Iwillgiveyouhalfanhourbyyourself,tothinkovermyproposal.Youareindangerofdeath.Decide,inyourwife’sinterests,whetheryouwilldieworthnothing,ordieworthathousandpounds."

           ’Leftalone,theCourierseriouslyconsidershisposition—anddecides.Heriseswithdifficulty;writesafewlinesonaleaftakenfromhispocket-book;and,withslowandfalteringsteps,leavestheroom.

           ’TheCountess,returningattheexpirationofthehalf-hour’sinterval,findstheroomempty.