Готель з привидами
Chapter XXVIII
Theheadnotbeingdestroyed,theobviousalternativeistohideit—andtheBaronisequaltotheoccasion.Hisstudiesintheoldlibraryhaveinformedhimofasafeplaceofconcealmentinthepalace.TheCountessmayrecoilfromhandlingtheacidsandwatchingtheprocessofcremation;butshecansurelysprinklealittledisinfectingpowder—’
’Nomore!’Henryreiterated.’Nomore!’
’Thereisnomorethatcanberead,mydearfellow.Thelastpagelookslikesheerdelirium.Shemaywellhavetoldyouthatherinventionhadfailedher!’
’Facethetruthhonestly,Stephen,andsayhermemory.’
LordMontbarryrosefromthetableatwhichhehadbeensitting,andlookedathisbrotherwithpityingeyes.
’Yournervesareoutoforder,Henry,’hesaid.’Andnowonder,afterthatfrightfuldiscoveryunderthehearth-stone.Wewon’tdisputeaboutit;wewillwaitadayortwountilyouarequiteyourselfagain.Inthemeantime,letusunderstandeachotherononepointatleast.Youleavethequestionofwhatistobedonewiththesepagesofwritingtome,astheheadofthefamily?’
’Ido.’
LordMontbarryquietlytookupthemanuscript,andthrewitintothefire.’Letthisrubbishbeofsomeuse,’hesaid,holdingthepagesdownwiththepoker.’Theroomisgettingchilly—theCountess’splaywillsetsomeofthesecharredlogsflamingagain.’Hewaitedalittleatthefire-place,andreturnedtohisbrother.’Now,Henry,Ihavealastwordtosay,andthenIhavedone
