The Ghost: A Modern Fantasy

ceremony of the funeral, I found a note from Rosetta Rosa, asking me to call on her at the H?tel du Commerc

te." The lawyer, who had been engaged in the sorting and examination of an enormous quantity of miscellaneous papers left by Alresca, informed me that he only discovered the package that very aft

he Ritz of Bruges, and very well aware of its own importance in the

nsieur, but we

you tell

diva, is staying here, and all the English from the H?tel du Panier d'Or

ask of professional ser

I said, "but I want to

eur, I will inquire."

Take my

an air which implied th

to Rosa's private sitting-room. As I went in a youngish, dark-eyed, bl

t, black, thin-textured tea-gown, she reclined in an easy-chair. Her beautiful fa

," I exclaimed, "a

shoulders in deni

tly. There was a pa

es

hear a

mperious, and I had a curious fear of offending her. Nevertheless I reminded

ou have been

first symptom of nervous impat

lied curtly. "Tell me

ent-the stately procession, the grandiose ritual, the symbols of pu

I rose also, and she demanded, as it were pushed b

m, didn't you

phrase; no Englishwo

thought that I could have grown so fond of any one in such a short

no

ew all about him? He talked

used to tell me a

and I saw that tears brimmed in her

incidence,"

knees before me, flashing into my eyes all

tell me how it is that I have killed him? He said long ago-do you not remember?-that I w

was uttering the thoughts w

r as gently as I could, I led her back to her

"and I must prescribe for you. My first prescript

y matter-of-fact in tone, a

night," she murmured wearily.

ill? Stop a moment. I have an item of news,

like his k

t I can't imagin

t gratitude

of gratitud

on given in

a w

had just received from the law

am interested-if you do no

ed another envelope, sealed, an

as returning it to my pocket. The worst of me is tha

you to read to me that letter. Does it not occur to you that I have the right to demand this from you? Why should he beat about the bush? You k

d, should I treat her as a child, this woman with the compelling eyes, the

ly, a mystery in connection with Alresca's d

esca's will-that is to say, a few days bef

hich accompanies this. My reason for making such a record is a peculiar one. I should desire that no eye might ever read that document. But I have an idea that some time or other the record may be of use to you-possibly soon. You, Carl,

ys y

res

d Rosa, when I had

ead for herself. Her hand sh

each avoided the glance of the other. The sile

ety, he probably would not have made these conditions. Besides, who can say that the circumstances he hints at have not already arisen? Who can s

calm, but within me there must have raged such a tumult of love and dar

ut I sustained that gaze. She stretched

aid. "Am I to open it,

whispered. "He

to break

clenched hands. "I was wrong. Leave it, for G

the carpet, and wondering all the time (in one part of my brain) why I should be making such a noise with my feet. At length I faced

ou wish," I said.

envelope back

th sa

an I could. I was unable to answer her matter-of-fact remark. She rang the bell, and th

We had both found it convenient to shelter our feelings behind

el without my own brand. It is one of Y

r ma

es

ite the ordinary

er because I outbid all rivals for her services. As a hairdresser she is unequalled. And it's so much nicer not bei

y, when do you recomm

vously. "I-I h

ade good-by to Rosa. She did not express the hope of seeing me again, and for some obscure reason, buried in the mysteries of love's psychology, I d

condition of joyous expectancy: "If you could meet me in the Church of St. Gilles at ele

ars elapsed befo

at five minutes past the hour she arrived, looking better in health, at once more composed and vivacious. We sat down in a co

rday about my engag

o throw yourself into your work as soon as possible, and as completely as possible." And I remembered the sim

s time. I have never sung the r?le there before, and I am, or rather I was, very anxious to do so. Thi

re you

lt him about the point. The truth is, I am threatened with trouble if I appear at the Opéra Comique,

hear th

hamps, who always takes

eard he

, Marie Deschamps, who sings in your

aintance of Marie-a h

starring, and I had the misfortune to arouse her jealousy. She is frightfully jealous, and get worse as she gets older. She swore to me that if I ever dared to appear at the Comique again she would have me killed. I laughed. I forgot the affair, but it happens that I never have sung at the Comique since that time. And now that I am not merel

ought, that she was not herself. I assured her that her fears were groundless, that we lived in the nineteenth century, and

, "but set off for Paris at once. G

to be thought of first," she s

exa

s are with my L

sing with

Who ever heard

r bankers to send the

sands of pounds. I ought really to fetch

e me a letter to your bankers, and I will underta

of putting you to

d of me. At that moment I felt that to serve even as her jew

d, "I ask it

ve me a divine s

pening to look back as I passed along the square, I saw a woman's figure which was familiar to me, and, dominated by a sudden

our mistress?" I said

shed me

hance imagine that I w

bout the girl which induced

I was on my w