Готель з привидами
Chapter X
Ferrarimasteredherownthrobbingheart;steppedoverthethreshold,consciousofherclammyhands,drylips,andburninghead;andstoodinthepresenceofLordMontbarry’swidow,toalloutwardappearanceassupremelyself-possessedasherladyshipherself.
Itwasstillearlyintheafternoon,butthelightintheroomwasdim.Theblindsweredrawndown.LadyMontbarrysatwithherbacktothewindows,asifeventhesubdueddaylightweredisagreeabletoher.Shehadalteredsadlyfortheworseinherpersonalappearance,sincethememorabledaywhenDoctorWybrowhadseenherinhisconsulting-room.Herbeautywasgone—herfacehadfallenawaytomereskinandbone;thecontrastbetweenherghastlycomplexionandhersteelyglitteringblackeyeswasmorestartlingthanever.Robedindismalblack,relievedonlybythebrilliantwhitenessofherwidow’scap—reclininginapanther-likesupplenessofattitudeonalittlegreensofa—shelookedatthestrangerwhohadintrudedonher,withamoment’slanguidcuriosity,thendroppedhereyesagaintothehand-screenwhichsheheldbetweenherfaceandthefire.’Idon’tknowyou,’shesaid.’Whatdoyouwantwithme?’
Mrs.Ferraritriedtoanswer.Herfirstburstofcouragehadalreadywornitselfout.Theboldwordsthatshehaddeterminedtospeakwerelivingwordsstillinhermind,buttheydiedonherlips.
Therewasamomentofsilence.LadyMontbarrylookedroundagainatthespeechlessstranger.’Areyoudeaf?’sheasked.Therewasanotherpause.LadyMontbarryquietlylookedbackagainatthescreen,andputanotherquestion.
