Готель з привидами
Chapter XII
Forthemomenthewiselycontrolledhimselfandchangedthesubject.
’Mylittleniece’sletterhashadaneffect,’hesaid,’whichthechildnevercontemplatedinwritingit.ShehasjustremindedmeofoneoftheobjectsthatIhadincallingonyouto-day.’
Agneslookedatthechild’sletter.’HowdoesLucydothat?’sheasked.
’Lucy’sgovernessisnottheonlyluckypersonwhohashadmoneylefther,’Henryanswered.’Isyouroldnurseinthehouse?’
’Youdon’tmeantosaythatnursehasgotalegacy?’
’Shehasgotahundredpounds.Sendforher,Agnes,whileIshowyoutheletter.’
Hetookahandfuloflettersfromhispocket,andlookedthroughthem,whileAgnesrangthebell.Returningtohim,shenoticedaprintedletteramongtherest,whichlayopenonthetable.Itwasa’prospectus,’andthetitleofitwas’PalaceHotelCompanyofVenice(Limited).’Thetwowords,’Palace’and’Venice,’instantlyrecalledhermindtotheunwelcomevisitofLadyMontbarry.’Whatisthat?’sheasked,pointingtothetitle.
Henrysuspendedhissearch,andglancedattheprospectus.’Areallypromisingspeculation,’hesaid.’Largehotelsalwayspaywell,iftheyarewellmanaged.Iknowthemanwhoisappointedtobemanagerofthishotelwhenitisopenedtothepublic;andIhavesuchentireconfidenceinhimthatIhavebecomeoneoftheshareholdersoftheCompany.’
ThereplydidnotappeartosatisfyAgnes.’Whyisthehotelcalledthe"PalaceHotel"?’sheinquired.
Henrylookedather,andatoncepenetratedhermotiveforaskingthequestion.
