Готель з привидами
Chapter I
Thesmoothpallorofherunwrinkledskinlookedmorefearfullywhitethanever.Forthefirsttime,formanyalongyearpast,theDoctorfelthispulsequickenitsbeatinthepresenceofapatient.
Havingpossessedherselfofhisattention,sheappeared,strangelyenough,tohavenothingtosaytohim.Acuriousapathyseemedtohavetakenpossessionofthisresolutewoman.Forcedtospeakfirst,theDoctormerelyinquired,intheconventionalphrase,whathecoulddoforher.
Thesoundofhisvoiceseemedtorouseher.Stilllookingstraightatthelight,shesaidabruptly:’Ihaveapainfulquestiontoask.’
’Whatisit?’
HereyestravelledslowlyfromthewindowtotheDoctor’sface.Withouttheslightestoutwardappearanceofagitation,sheputthe’painfulquestion’intheseextraordinarywords:
’Iwanttoknow,ifyouplease,whetherIamindangerofgoingmad?’
Somemenmighthavebeenamused,andsomemighthavebeenalarmed.DoctorWybrowwasonlyconsciousofasenseofdisappointment.Wasthistherarecasethathehadanticipated,judgingrashlybyappearances?Wasthenewpatientonlyahypochondriacalwoman,whosemaladywasadisorderedstomachandwhosemisfortunewasaweakbrain?’Whydoyoucometome?’heaskedsharply.’Whydon’tyouconsultadoctorwhosespecialemploymentisthetreatmentoftheinsane?’
Shehadheranswerreadyontheinstant.
’Idon’tgotoadoctorofthatsort,’shesaid,’fortheveryreasonthatheisaspecialist:hehasthefatalhabitofjudgingeverybodybylinesandrulesofhisownlayingdown.
