Готель з привидами

           Whilesheiswondering,theCourieropensthedoor.Whathashebeendoingoutofhisbed?Heanswers,"Ihavebeenprotectingmyownlife,mylady,onthebarechancethatImayrecoverfromthebronchitisforthethirdtime.IfyouortheBaronattemptstohurrymeoutofthisworld,ortodeprivemeofmythousandpoundsreward,Ishalltellthedoctorwherehewillfindafewlinesofwriting,whichdescribeyourladyship’splot.Imaynothavestrengthenough,inthecasesupposed,tobetrayyoubymakingacompleteconfessionwithmyownlips;butIcanemploymylastbreathtospeakthehalf-dozenwordswhichwilltellthedoctorwhereheistolook.Thosewords,itisneedlesstoadd,willbeaddressedtoyourLadyship,ifIfindyourengagementstowardsmefaithfullykept."

           ’Withthisaudaciouspreface,heproceedstostatetheconditionsonwhichhewillplayhispartintheconspiracy,anddie(ifhedoesdie)worthathousandpounds.

           ’EithertheCountessortheBaronaretotastethefoodanddrinkbroughttohisbedside,inhispresence,andeventhemedicineswhichthedoctormayprescribeforhim.Asforthepromisedsumofmoney,itistobeproducedinonebank-note,foldedinasheetofpaper,onwhichalineistobewritten,dictatedbytheCourier.Thetwoenclosuresarethentobesealedupinanenvelope,addressedtohiswife,andstampedreadyforthepost