Готель з привидами

           Ifheventurestoappealtothelaw,itiseasytodeclarethatheissubjecttoinsanedelusion,andtocallhisownwifeaswitness.Ontheotherhand,iftheCourierdies,howisthesequestratedandunknownnoblemantobeputoutoftheway?Passively,bylettinghimstarveinhisprison?No:theBaronisamanofrefinedtastes;hedislikesneedlesscruelty.Theactivepolicyremains—say,assassinationbytheknifeofahiredbravo?TheBaronobjectstotrustinganaccomplice;alsotospendingmoneyonanyonebuthimself.Shalltheydroptheirprisonerintothecanal?TheBarondeclinestotrustwater;waterwillshowhimonthesurface.Shalltheysethisbedonfire?Anexcellentidea;butthesmokemightbeseen.No:thecircumstancesbeingnowentirelyaltered,poisoninghimpresentstheeasiestwayoutofit.Hehassimplybecomeasuperfluousperson.Thecheapestpoisonwilldo.—Isitpossible,Henry,thatyoubelievethisconsultationreallytookplace?’

           Henrymadenoreply.Thesuccessionofthequestionsthathadjustbeenreadtohim,exactlyfollowedthesuccessionofthedreamsthathadterrifiedMrs.Norbury,onthetwonightswhichshehadpassedinthehotel.Itwasuselesstopointoutthiscoincidencetohisbrother.Heonlysaid,’Goon.’

           LordMontbarryturnedthepagesuntilhecametothenextintelligiblepassage.

           ’Here,’heproceeded,’isadoublesceneonthestage—sofarasIcanunderstandthesketchofit.TheDoctorisupstairs,innocentlywritinghiscertificateofmyLord’sdecease,bythedeadCourier’sbedside.