Готель з привидами

           ’TheonethingIcansuggest,’shesaid,afterfirstspeakingsomekindwordsofcomfortandhope,’isthatweshouldconsultapersonofgreaterexperiencethanours.SupposeIwriteandaskmylawyer(whoisalsomyfriendandtrustee)tocomeandadviseusto-morrowafterhisbusinesshours?’

           Emilyeagerlyandgratefullyacceptedthesuggestion.Anhourwasarrangedforthemeetingonthenextday;thecorrespondencewasleftunderthecareofAgnes;andthecourier’swifetookherleave.

           Wearyandheartsick,Agneslaydownonthesofa,torestandcomposeherself.Thecarefulnursebroughtinarevivingcupoftea.HerquaintgossipaboutherselfandheroccupationswhileAgneshadbeenaway,actedasarelieftohermistress’soverburdenedmind.Theywerestilltalkingquietly,whentheywerestartledbyaloudknockatthehousedoor.Hurriedfootstepsascendedthestairs.Thedoorofthesitting-roomwasthrownopenviolently;thecourier’swiferushedinlikeamadwoman.’He’sdead!They’vemurderedhim!’Thosewildwordswereallshecouldsay.Shedroppedonherkneesatthefootofthesofa—heldoutherhandwithsomethingclaspedinit—andfellbackinaswoon.

           Thenurse,signingtoAgnestoopenthewindow,tookthenecessarymeasurestorestorethefaintingwoman.’What’sthis?’sheexclaimed.’Here’saletterinherhand.Seewhatitis,Miss.’

           Theopenenvelopewasaddressed(evidentlyinafeignedhand-writing)to’Mrs.Ferrari.’Thepost-markwas’Venice.’Thecontentsoftheenvelopewereasheetofforeignnote-paper,andafoldedenclosure