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and for the convenience of any other members of the family inhabiting the
house。
'To this the Baron replied； 〃I am the only member of the family living
here； and I and the palace are entirely at your disposal。〃 From first to last
we found this gentleman perfectly straighforward； and most amiably
willing to assist us。
'With the one exception of her ladyship's room； we went over the
whole of the palace the same day。 It is an immense place only partially
furnished。 The first floor and part of the second floor were the portions
of it that had been inhabited by Lord Montbarry and the members of the
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
household。 We saw the bedchamber； at one extremity of the palace； in
which his lordship died； and the small room communicating with it； which
he used as a study。 Next to this was a large apartment or hall； the doors of
which he habitually kept locked； his object being （as we were informed） to
pursue his studies uninterruptedly in perfect solitude。 On the other side of
the large hall were the bedchamber occupied by her ladyship； and the
dressing…room in which the maid slept previous to her departure for
England。 Beyond these were the dining and reception rooms； opening
into an antechamber； which gave access to the grand staircase of the
palace。
'The only inhabited rooms on the second floor were the sitting…room
and bedroom occupied by Baron Rivar； and another room at some distance
from it； which had been the bedroom of the courier Ferrari。
'The rooms on the third floor and on the basement were completely
unfurnished； and in a condition of great neglect。 We inquired if there was
anything to be seen below the basement and we were at once informed
that there were vaults beneath； which we were at perfect liberty to visit。
'We went down； so as to leave no part of the palace unexplored。 The
vaults were； it was believed； used as dungeons in the old times say； some
centuries since。 Air and light were only partially admitted to these
dismal places by two long shafts of winding construction； which
communicated with the back yard of the palace； and the openings of which；
high above the ground； were protected by iron gratings。 The stone stairs
leading down into the vaults could be closed at will by a heavy trap…door
in the back hall； which we found open。 The Baron himself led the way
down the stairs。 We remarked that it might be awkward if that trap…door
fell down and closed the opening behind us。 The Baron smiled at the idea。
〃Don't be alarmed； gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃the door is safe。 I had an
interest in seeing to it myself； when we first inhabited the palace。 My
favourite study is the study of experimental chemistryand my workshop；
since we have been in Venice； is down here。〃
'These last words explained a curious smell in the vaults； which we
noticed the moment we entered them。 We can only describe the smell by
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
saying that it was of a twofold sortfaintly aromatic； as it were； in its first
effect； but with some after…odour very sickening in our nostrils。 The
Baron's furnaces and retorts； and other things； were all there to speak for
themselves； together with some packages of chemicals； having the name
and address of the person who had supplied them plainly visible on their
labels。 〃Not a pleasant place for study；〃 Baron Rivar observed； 〃but my
sister is timid。 She has a horror of chemical smells and explosions and
she has banished me to these lower regions； so that my experiments may
neither be smelt nor heard。〃 He held out his hands； on which we had
noticed that he wore gloves in the house。 〃Accidents will happen
sometimes；〃 he said； 〃no matter how careful a man may be。 I burnt my
hands severely in trying a new combination the other day； and they are
only recovering now。〃
'We mention these otherwise unimportant incidents； in order to show
that our exploration of the palace was not impeded by any attempt at
concealment。 We were even admitted to her ladyship's own room on a
subsequent occasion； when she went out to take the air。 Our instructions
recommended us to examine his lordship's residence； because the extreme
privacy of his life at Venice； and the remarkable departure of the only two
servants in the house； might have some suspicious connection with the
nature of his death。 We found nothing to justify suspicion。
'As to his lordship's retired way of life； we have conversed on the
subject with the consul and the bankerthe only two strangers who held
any communication with him。 He called once at the bank to obtain
money on his letter of credit； and excused himself from accepting an
invitation to visit the banker at his private residence； on the ground of
delicate health。 His lordship wrote to the same effect on sending his card
to the consul； to excuse himself from personally returning that gentleman's
visit to the palace。 We have seen the letter； and we beg to offer the
following copy of it。 〃Many years passed in India have injured my
constitution。 I have ceased to go into society； the one occupation of my
life now is the study of Oriental literature。 The air of Italy is better for
me than the air of England； or I should never have left home。 Pray accept
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the apologies of a student and an invalid。 The active part of my life is at
an end。〃 The self…seclusion of his lordship seems to us to be explained in
these brief lines。 We have not； however； on that account spared our
inquiries in other directions。 Nothing to excite a suspicion of anything
wrong has come to our knowledge。
'As to the departure of the lady's maid； we have seen the woman's
receipt for her wages； in which it is expressly stated