Готель з привидами

           Observe,madam,Idon’tdisputeyourviewofthepositionofaffairsatthepalaceinVenice.Youhaveyourhusband’sletterstojustifyyou;andyouhavealsothesignificantfactthatLadyMontbarry’smaiddidreallyleavethehouse.Wewillsay,then,thatLordMontbarryhaspresumablybeenmadethevictimofafoulwrong—thatMr.Ferrariwasthefirsttofinditout—andthattheguiltypersonshadreasontofear,notonlythathewouldacquaintLordMontbarrywithhisdiscovery,butthathewouldbeaprincipalwitnessagainstthemifthescandalwasmadepublicinacourtoflaw.Nowmark!Admittingallthis,Idrawatotallydifferentconclusionfromtheconclusionatwhichyouhavearrived.Hereisyourhusbandleftinthismiserablehouseholdofthree,underveryawkwardcircumstancesforhim.Whatdoeshedo?Butforthebank-noteandthewrittenmessagesenttoyouwithit,Ishouldsaythathehadwiselywithdrawnhimselffromassociationwithadisgracefuldiscoveryandexposure,bytakingsecretlytoflight.Themoneymodifiesthisview—unfavourablysofarasMr.Ferrariisconcerned.Istillbelieveheiskeepingoutoftheway.ButInowsayheispaidforkeepingoutoftheway—andthatbank-notethereonthetableisthepriceofhisabsence,sentbytheguiltypersonstohiswife.’

           Mrs.Ferrari’swaterygreyeyesbrightenedsuddenly;Mrs.Ferrari’sdulldrab-colouredcomplexionbecameenlivenedbyaglowofbrilliantred.

           ’It’sfalse!’shecried.’It’saburningshametospeakofmyhusbandinthatway!’

           ’ItoldyouIshouldoffendyou!’saidMr.Troy.