Готель з привидами

           ’Doyouwantmoney?’

           ’Money!’Thatonewordrousedthesinkingspiritofthecourier’swife.Sherecoveredhercourage;shefoundhervoice.’Lookatme,mylady,ifyouplease,’shesaid,withasuddenoutbreakofaudacity.

           LadyMontbarrylookedroundforthethirdtime.ThefatalwordspassedMrs.Ferrari’slips.

           ’Icome,mylady,toacknowledgethereceiptofthemoneysenttoFerrari’swidow.’

           LadyMontbarry’sglitteringblackeyesrestedwithsteadyattentiononthewomanwhohadaddressedherinthoseterms.Notthefaintestexpressionofconfusionoralarm,notevenamomentaryflutterofintereststirredthedeadlystillnessofherface.Shereposedasquietly,sheheldthescreenascomposedly,asever.Thetesthadbeentried,andhadutterlyfailed.

           Therewasanothersilence.LadyMontbarryconsideredwithherself.Thesmilethatcameslowlyandwentawaysuddenly—thesmileatoncesosadandsocruel—showeditselfonherthinlips.Sheliftedherscreen,andpointedwithittoaseatatthefartherendoftheroom.’Besogoodastotakethatchair,’shesaid.

           Helplessunderherfirstbewilderingsenseoffailure—notknowingwhattosayorwhattodonext—Mrs.Ferrarimechanicallyobeyed.LadyMontbarry,risingonthesofaforthefirsttime,watchedherwithundisguisedscrutinyasshecrossedtheroom—thensankbackintoarecliningpositiononcemore.’No,’shesaidtoherself,’thewomanwalkssteadily;sheisnotintoxicated—theonlyotherpossibilityisthatshemaybemad.’

           Shehadspokenloudenoughtobeheard.Stungbytheinsult,Mrs.