Готель з привидами

           "Heheldouthishands,onwhichwehadnoticedthatheworeglovesinthehouse."Accidentswillhappensometimes,"hesaid,"nomatterhowcarefulamanmaybe.Iburntmyhandsseverelyintryinganewcombinationtheotherday,andtheyareonlyrecoveringnow."

           ’Wementiontheseotherwiseunimportantincidents,inordertoshowthatourexplorationofthepalacewasnotimpededbyanyattemptatconcealment.Wewereevenadmittedtoherladyship’sownroom—onasubsequentoccasion,whenshewentouttotaketheair.Ourinstructionsrecommendedustoexaminehislordship’sresidence,becausetheextremeprivacyofhislifeatVenice,andtheremarkabledepartureoftheonlytwoservantsinthehouse,mighthavesomesuspiciousconnectionwiththenatureofhisdeath.Wefoundnothingtojustifysuspicion.

           ’Astohislordship’sretiredwayoflife,wehaveconversedonthesubjectwiththeconsulandthebanker—theonlytwostrangerswhoheldanycommunicationwithhim.Hecalledonceatthebanktoobtainmoneyonhisletterofcredit,andexcusedhimselffromacceptinganinvitationtovisitthebankerathisprivateresidence,onthegroundofdelicatehealth.Hislordshipwrotetothesameeffectonsendinghiscardtotheconsul,toexcusehimselffrompersonallyreturningthatgentleman’svisittothepalace.Wehaveseentheletter,andwebegtoofferthefollowingcopyofit."ManyyearspassedinIndiahaveinjuredmyconstitution.Ihaveceasedtogointosociety;theoneoccupationofmylifenowisthestudyofOrientalliterature.