Готель з привидами
Chapter VI
Themessagewasinthesewords:
’LadyMontbarry,Venice.ToStephenRobertWestwick,Newbury’sHotel,London.Itisuselesstotakethejourney.LordMontbarrydiedofbronchitis,at8.40thisevening.Allneedfuldetailsbypost.’
’Wasthisexpected,sir?’thelawyerasked.
’Icannotsaythatithastakenusentirelybysurprise,’Henryanswered.’MybrotherStephen(whoisnowtheheadofthefamily)receivedatelegramthreedayssince,informinghimthatalarmingsymptomshaddeclaredthemselves,andthatasecondphysicianhadbeencalledin.HetelegraphedbacktosaythathehadleftIrelandforLondon,onhiswaytoVenice,andtodirectthatanyfurthermessagemightbesenttohishotel.Thereplycameinasecondtelegram.ItannouncedthatLordMontbarrywasinastateofinsensibility,andthat,inhisbriefintervalsofconsciousness,herecognisednobody.MybrotherwasadvisedtowaitinLondonforlaterinformation.Thethirdtelegramisnowinyourhands.ThatisallIknow,uptothepresenttime.’
Happeningtolookatthecourier’swife,Mr.Troywasstruckbytheexpressionofblankfearwhichshoweditselfinthewoman’sface.
’Mrs.Ferrari,’hesaid,’haveyouheardwhatMr.Westwickhasjusttoldme?’
’Everywordofit,sir.’
’Haveyouanyquestionstoask?’
’No,sir.’
’Youseemtobealarmed,’thelawyerpersisted.’Isitstillaboutyourhusband?’
’Ishallneverseemyhusbandagain,sir.Ihavethoughtsoallalong,asyouknow.Ifeelsureofitnow.’
’Sureofit,afterwhatyouhavejustheard?’
’Yes,sir.
