Готель з привидами
Chapter I
Ihaveneverhadacomplexionsince—andmyskinissodelicate,Icannotpaintwithoutproducingahideousrash.Butthatisofnoimportance.Iwantedyouropiniongivenpositively.Ibelievedinyou,andyouhavedisappointedme.’Herheaddroppedonherbreast.’Andsoitends!’shesaidtoherselfbitterly.
TheDoctor’ssympathiesweretouched.Perhapsitmightbemorecorrecttosaythathisprofessionalpridewasalittlehurt.’Itmayendintherightwayyet,’heremarked,’ifyouchoosetohelpme.’
Shelookedupagainwithflashingeyes,’Speakplainly,’shesaid.’HowcanIhelpyou?’
’Plainly,madam,youcometomeasanenigma,andyouleavemetomaketherightguessbytheunaidedeffortsofmyart.Myartwilldomuch,butnotall.Forexample,somethingmusthaveoccurred—somethingquiteunconnectedwiththestateofyourbodilyhealth—tofrightenyouaboutyourself,oryouwouldneverhavecomeheretoconsultme.Isthattrue?’
Sheclaspedherhandsinherlap.’Thatistrue!’shesaideagerly.’Ibegintobelieveinyouagain.’
’Verywell.Youcan’texpectmetofindoutthemoralcausewhichhasalarmedyou.Icanpositivelydiscoverthatthereisnophysicalcauseofalarm;and(unlessyouadmitmetoyourconfidence)Icandonomore.’
Sherose,andtookaturnintheroom.’SupposeItellyou?’shesaid.’But,mind,Ishallmentionnonames!’
’Thereisnoneedtomentionnames.ThefactsareallIwant.’
’Thefactsarenothing,’sherejoined
