Готель з привидами
Postscript
Hecarriedhisterriblesecretwithhimtothegrave.
Therewasoneothereventinthememorablepastonwhichhepreservedthesamecompassionatesilence.LittleMrs.Ferrarineverknewthatherhusbandhadbeen—not,asshesupposed,theCountess’svictim—buttheCountess’saccomplice.ShestillbelievedthatthelateLordMontbarryhadsentherthethousand-poundnote,andstillrecoiledfrommakinguseofapresentwhichshepersistedindeclaringhad’thestainofherhusband’sbloodonit.’Agnes,withthewidow’sentireapproval,tookthemoneytotheChildren’sHospital;andspentitinaddingtothenumberofthebeds.
Inthespringofthenewyear,themarriagetookplace.AtthespecialrequestofAgnes,themembersofthefamilyweretheonlypersonspresentattheceremony.Therewasnoweddingbreakfast—andthehoneymoonwasspentintheretirementofacottageonthebanksoftheThames.
Duringthelastfewdaysoftheresidenceofthenewlymarriedcouplebytheriverside,LadyMontbarry’schildrenwereinvitedtoenjoyaday’splayinthegarden.Theeldestgirloverheard(andreportedtohermother)alittleconjugaldialoguewhichtouchedonthetopicofTheHauntedHotel.
’Henry,Iwantyoutogivemeakiss.’
’Thereitis,mydear.’
’NowIamyourwife,mayIspeaktoyouaboutsomething?’
’Whatisit?’
’SomethingthathappenedthedaybeforeweleftVenice.YousawtheCountess,duringthelasthoursofherlife
