Готель з привидами

           Hewhisperedfaintly,’Areyousure?’Itwasnotimetodeceivehim;Isaid,’Positivelysure.’Hewaitedalittle,gaspingforbreath,andthenhewhisperedagain,’Feelundermypillow.’Ifoundunderhispillowaletter,sealedandstamped,readyforthepost.Hisnextwordswerejustaudibleandnomore—’Postityourself.’Ianswered,ofcourse,thatIwoulddoso—andIdidposttheletterwithmyownhand.Ilookedattheaddress.ItwasdirectedtoaladyinLondon.ThestreetIcannotremember.ThenameIcanperfectlyrecall:itwasanItalianname—’Mrs.Ferrari.’

           ’"Thatnightmylordnearlydiedofasphyxia.Igothimthroughitforthetime;andhiseyesshowedthatheunderstoodmewhenItoldhim,thenextmorning,thatIhadpostedtheletter.Thiswashislasteffortofconsciousness.WhenIsawhimagainhewassunkinapathy.Helingeredinastateofinsensibility,supportedbystimulants,untilthe25th,anddied(unconscioustothelast)ontheeveningofthatday.

           ’"Astothecauseofhisdeath,itseems(ifImaybeexcusedforsayingso)simplyabsurdtoaskthequestion.Bronchitis,terminatinginpneumonia—thereisnomoredoubtthatthis,andthisonly,wasthemaladyofwhichheexpired,thanthattwoandtwomakefour.DoctorTorello’sownnoteofthecaseisaddedheretoaduplicateofmycertificate,inorder(asIaminformed)tosatisfysomeEnglishofficesinwhichhislordship’slifewasinsured.