Готель з привидами
Postscript
Won’tyoutellmewhethershemadeanyconfessiontoyou?’
’Noconsciousconfession,Agnes—andthereforenoconfessionthatIneeddistressyoubyrepeating.’
’Didshesaynothingaboutwhatshesaworheard,onthatdreadfulnightinmyroom?’
’Nothing.Weonlyknowthathermindneverrecoveredtheterrorofit.’
Agneswasnotquitesatisfied.Thesubjecttroubledher.Evenherownbriefintercoursewithhermiserablerivalofotherdayssuggestedquestionsthatperplexedher.SherememberedtheCountess’sprediction.’Youhavetobringmetothedayofdiscovery,andtothepunishmentthatismydoom.’Hadthepredictionsimplyfaded,likeothermortalprophecies?—orhaditbeenfulfilledontheterriblenightwhenshehadseentheapparition,andwhenshehadinnocentlytemptedtheCountesstowatchherinherroom?
Letit,however,berecorded,amongtheothervirtuesofMrs.HenryWestwick,thatsheneveragainattemptedtopersuadeherhusbandintobetrayinghissecrets.Othermen’swives,hearingofthisextraordinaryconduct(andbeingtrainedinthemodernschoolofmoralsandmanners),naturallyregardedherwithcompassionatecontempt.TheyspokeofAgnes,fromthattimeforth,as’ratheranold-fashionedperson.’
Isthatall?
Thatisall.
IstherenoexplanationofthemysteryofTheHauntedHotel?
Askyourselfifthereisanyexplanationofthemysteryofyourownlifeanddeath.—Farewell.
