Готель з привидами

           Itwasstillearlyintheevening.SheatoncesentamessagetoMrs.Ferrari,tosaythatshehadreturned.

           Inanhourmorethecourier’swifeappeared,inastateofagitationwhichitwasnoteasytocontrol.Hernarrative,whenshewasatlastabletospeakconnectedly,entirelyconfirmedthenurse’sreportofit.

           AfterhearingfromherhusbandwithtolerableregularityfromParis,Rome,andVenice,Emilyhadtwicewrittentohimafterwards—andhadreceivednoreply.Feelinguneasy,shehadgonetotheofficeinGoldenSquare,toinquireifhehadbeenheardofthere.ThepostofthemorninghadbroughtalettertothesecretaryfromacourierthenatVenice.ItcontainedstartlingnewsofFerrari.Hiswifehadbeenallowedtotakeacopyofit,whichshenowhandedtoAgnestoread.

           ThewriterstatedthathehadrecentlyarrivedinVenice.HehadpreviouslyheardthatFerrariwaswithLordandLadyMontbarry,atoneoftheoldVenetianpalaceswhichtheyhadhiredforaterm.BeingafriendofFerrari,hehadgonetopayhimavisit.Ringingatthedoorthatopenedonthecanal,andfailingtomakeanyonehearhim,hehadgoneroundtoasideentranceopeningononeofthenarrowlanesofVenice.Here,standingatthedoor(asifshewaswaitingforhimtotrythatwaynext),hefoundapalewomanwithmagnificentdarkeyes,whoprovedtobenootherthanLadyMontbarryherself.

           Sheasked,inItalian,whathewanted.HeansweredthathewantedtoseethecourierFerrari,ifitwasquiteconvenient.