Готель з привидами

           TheairofItalyisbetterformethantheairofEngland,orIshouldneverhavelefthome.Prayaccepttheapologiesofastudentandaninvalid.Theactivepartofmylifeisatanend."Theself-seclusionofhislordshipseemstoustobeexplainedinthesebrieflines.Wehavenot,however,onthataccountsparedourinquiriesinotherdirections.Nothingtoexciteasuspicionofanythingwronghascometoourknowledge.

           ’Astothedepartureofthelady’smaid,wehaveseenthewoman’sreceiptforherwages,inwhichitisexpresslystatedthatsheleftLadyMontbarry’sservicebecauseshedislikedtheContinent,andwishedtogetbacktoherowncountry.ThisisnotanuncommonresultoftakingEnglishservantstoforeignparts.LadyMontbarryhasinformedusthatsheabstainedfromengaginganothermaidinconsequenceoftheextremedislikewhichhislordshipexpressedtohavingstrangersinthehouse,inthestateofhishealthatthattime.

           ’ThedisappearanceofthecourierFerrariis,initself,unquestionablyasuspiciouscircumstance.NeitherherladyshipnortheBaroncanexplainit;andnoinvestigationthatwecouldmakehasthrownthesmallestlightonthisevent,orhasjustifiedusinassociatingit,directlyorindirectly,withtheobjectofourinquiry.WehaveevengonethelengthofexaminingtheportmanteauwhichFerrarileftbehindhim.Itcontainsnothingbutclothesandlinen—nomoney,andnotevenascrapofpaperinthepocketsoftheclothes.Theportmanteauremainsinchargeofthepolice.