Готель з привидами

           Butthefirmnessofit—withoutanger,withoutawordofreproach,withheartfeltwishesevenforhishappiness—thefirmnessofit,Isay,lefthimnohope.Heappealedtomycompassion;heappealedtohisloveforme.Youknowwhatwomenare.Itoowassoft-hearted—Isaid,Verywell:yes!Inaweekmore(ItrembleasIthinkofit)wearetobemarried.’

           Shedidreallytremble—shewasobligedtopauseandcomposeherself,beforeshecouldgoon.TheDoctor,waitingformorefacts,begantofearthathestoodcommittedtoalongstory.’ForgivemeforremindingyouthatIhavesufferingpersonswaitingtoseeme,’hesaid.’Thesooneryoucancometothepoint,thebetterformypatientsandforme.’

           Thestrangesmile—atoncesosadandsocruel—showeditselfagainonthelady’slips.’EverywordIhavesaidistothepoint,’sheanswered.’Youwillseeityourselfinamomentmore.’

           Sheresumedhernarrative.

           ’Yesterday—youneedfearnolongstory,sir;onlyyesterday—IwasamongthevisitorsatoneofyourEnglishluncheonparties.Alady,aperfectstrangertome,cameinlate—afterwehadleftthetable,andhadretiredtothedrawing-room.Shehappenedtotakeachairnearme;andwewerepresentedtoeachother.Iknewherbyname,assheknewme.ItwasthewomanwhomIhadrobbedofherlover,thewomanwhohadwrittenthenobleletter.Nowlisten!YouwereimpatientwithmefornotinterestingyouinwhatIsaidjustnow.IsaidittosatisfyyourmindthatIhadnoenmityoffeelingtowardsthelady,onmyside.