Готель з привидами

           Airandlightwereonlypartiallyadmittedtothesedismalplacesbytwolongshaftsofwindingconstruction,whichcommunicatedwiththebackyardofthepalace,andtheopeningsofwhich,highabovetheground,wereprotectedbyirongratings.Thestonestairsleadingdownintothevaultscouldbeclosedatwillbyaheavytrap-doorinthebackhall,whichwefoundopen.TheBaronhimselfledthewaydownthestairs.Weremarkedthatitmightbeawkwardifthattrap-doorfelldownandclosedtheopeningbehindus.TheBaronsmiledattheidea."Don’tbealarmed,gentlemen,"hesaid;"thedoorissafe.Ihadaninterestinseeingtoitmyself,whenwefirstinhabitedthepalace.Myfavouritestudyisthestudyofexperimentalchemistry—andmyworkshop,sincewehavebeeninVenice,isdownhere."

           ’Theselastwordsexplainedacurioussmellinthevaults,whichwenoticedthemomentweenteredthem.Wecanonlydescribethesmellbysayingthatitwasofatwofoldsort—faintlyaromatic,asitwere,initsfirsteffect,butwithsomeafter-odourverysickeninginournostrils.TheBaron’sfurnacesandretorts,andotherthings,werealltheretospeakforthemselves,togetherwithsomepackagesofchemicals,havingthenameandaddressofthepersonwhohadsuppliedthemplainlyvisibleontheirlabels."Notapleasantplaceforstudy,"BaronRivarobserved,"butmysisteristimid.Shehasahorrorofchemicalsmellsandexplosions—andshehasbanishedmetotheselowerregions,sothatmyexperimentsmayneitherbesmeltnorheard.