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'My brother died at Venice yesterday evening。 There is the telegram。'
With that startling answer； he handed the paper to Mr。 Troy。
The message was in these words：
'Lady Montbarry； Venice。 To Stephen Robert Westwick； Newbury's
Hotel； London。 It is useless to take the journey。 Lord Montbarry died of
bronchitis； at 8。40 this evening。 All needful details by post。'
'Was this expected； sir？' the lawyer asked。
'I cannot say that it has taken us entirely by surprise； Henry answered。
'My brother Stephen （who is now the head of the family） received a
telegram three days since； informing him that alarming symptoms had
declared themselves； and that a second physician had been called in。 He
telegraphed back to say that he had left Ireland for London； on his way to
Venice； and to direct that any further message might be sent to his hotel。
The reply came in a second telegram。 It announced that Lord Montbarry
was in a state of insensibility； and that； in his brief intervals of
consciousness； he recognised nobody。 My brother was advised to wait in
London for later information。 The third telegram is now in your hands。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
That is all I know； up to the present time。'
Happening to look at the courier's wife； Mr。 Troy was struck by the
expression of blank fear which showed itself in the woman's face。
'Mrs。 Ferrari；' he said； 'have you heard what Mr。 Westwick has just told
me？'
'Every word of it； sir。'
'Have you any questions to ask？'
'No； sir。'
'You seem to be alarmed；' the lawyer persisted。 'Is it still about your
husband？'
'I shall never see my husband again； sir。 I have thought so all along；
as you know。 I feel sure of it now。'
'Sure of it； after what you have just heard？'
'Yes； sir。'
'Can you tell me why？'
'No； sir。 It's a feeling I have。 I can't tell why。'
'Oh； a feeling？' Mr。 Troy repeated； in a tone of compassionate
contempt。 'When it comes to feelings； my good soul！' He left the
sentence unfinished； and rose to take his leave of Mr。 Westwick。 The
truth is； he began to feel puzzled himself； and he did not choose to let Mrs。
Ferrari see it。 'Accept the expression of my sympathy； sir；' he said to Mr。
Westwick politely。 'I wish you good evening。'
Henry turned to Mrs。 Ferrari as the lawyer closed the door。 'I have
heard of your trouble； Emily； from Miss Lockwood。 Is there anything I
can do to help you？'
'Nothing； sir； thank you。 Perhaps； I had better go home after what has
happened？ I will call to…morrow； and see if I can be of any use to Miss
Agnes。 I am very sorry for her。' She stole away； with her formal
curtsey； her noiseless step； and her obstinate resolution to take the
gloomiest view of her husband's case。
Henry Westwick looked round him in the solitude of the little drawing…
room。 There was nothing to keep him in the house； and yet he lingered in
it。 It was something to be even near Agnesto see the things belonging to
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
her that were scattered about the room。 There； in the corner； was her
chair； with her embroidery on the work…table by its side。 On the little easel
near the window was her last drawing； not quite finished yet。 The book
she had been reading lay on the sofa； with her tiny pencil…case in it to
mark the place at which she had left off。 One after another； he looked at
the objects that reminded him of the woman whom he lovedtook them up
tenderly and laid them down again with a sigh。 Ah； how far； how
unattainably far from him； she was still！ 'She will never forget
Montbarry；' he thought to himself as he took up his hat to go。 'Not one of
us feels his death as she feels it。 Miserable； miserable wretchhow she
loved him！'
In the street； as Henry closed the house…door； he was stopped by a
passing acquaintancea wearisome inquisitive man doubly unwelcome
to him； at that moment。 'Sad news； Westwick； this about your brother。
Rather an unexpected death； wasn't it？ We never heard at the club that
Montbarry's lungs were weak。 What will the insurance offices do？'
Henry started； he had never thought of his brother's life insurance。
What could the offices do but pay？ A death by bronchitis； certified by
two physicians； was surely the least disputable of all deaths。 'I wish you
hadn't put that question into my head！' he broke out irritably。 'Ah！' said his
friend； 'you think the widow will get the money？ So do I！ so do I！'
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CHAPTER VII
Some days later； the insurance offices （two in number） received the
formal announcement of Lord Montbarry's death； from her ladyship's
London solicitors。 The sum insured in each office was five thousand
poundson which one year's premium only had been paid。 In the face of
such a pecuniary emergency as this； the Directors thought it desirable to
consider their position。 The medical advisers of the two offices； who had
recommended the insurance of Lord Montbarry's life； were called into
council over their own reports。 The result excited some interest among
persons connected with the business of life insurance。 Without absolutely
declining to pay the money； the two offices （acting in concert） decided on
sending a commission of inquiry to Venice； 'for the purpose of obtaining
further information。'
Mr。 Troy received the earliest intelligence of what was going on。 He
wrote at once to communicate his news to Agnes； adding； what he
considered to be a valuable hint； in these words：
'You are intimately acquainted； I know； with Lady Barville； the late
Lord Montbarry's eldest sister。 The solicitors employed by her husband
are also the solicitors