Готель з привидами

           Shehadneverseenthelostcourier—shehadneverevenseenLordMontbarry,whowasthenconfinedtohisroom.Herladyship,’amostgraciousandadorablemistress,’wasinconstantattendanceonhernoblehusband.Therewasnootherservanttheninthehouse(sofarastheoldwomanknew)butherself.Themealsweresentinfromarestaurant.Mylord,itwassaid,dislikedstrangers.Mylord’sbrother-in-law,theBaron,wasgenerallyshutupinaremotepartofthepalace,occupied(thegraciousmistresssaid)withexperimentsinchemistry.Theexperimentssometimesmadeanastysmell.Adoctorhadlatterlybeencalledintohislordship—anItaliandoctor,longresidentinVenice.Inquiriesbeingaddressedtothisgentleman(aphysicianofundoubtedcapacityandrespectability),itturnedoutthathealsohadneverseenFerrari,havingbeensummonedtothepalace(ashismemorandumbookshowed)atadatesubsequenttothecourier’sdisappearance.ThedoctordescribedLordMontbarry’smaladyasbronchitis.Sofar,therewasnoreasontofeelanyanxiety,thoughtheattackwasasharpone.Ifalarmingsymptomsshouldappear,hehadarrangedwithherladyshiptocallinanotherphysician.Fortherest,itwasimpossibletospeaktoohighlyofmylady;nightandday,shewasatherlord’sbedside.

           WiththeseparticularsbeganandendedthediscoveriesmadebyFerrari’scourier-friend.Thepolicewereonthelook-outforthelostman—andthatwastheonlyhopewhichcouldbeheldforthforthepresent,toFerrari’swife.

           ’Whatdoyouthinkofit,Miss?’thepoorwomanaskedeagerly.