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Her eyes travelled slowly from the window to the Doctor's face。
Without the slightest outward appearance of agitation； she put the 'painful
question' in these extraordinary words：
'I want to know； if you please； whether I am in danger of going mad？'
Some men might have been amused； and some might have been
alarmed。 Doctor Wybrow was only conscious of a sense of disappointment。
Was this the rare case that he had anticipated； judging rashly by
appearances？ Was the new patient only a hypochondriacal woman；
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
whose malady was a disordered stomach and whose misfortune was a
weak brain？ 'Why do you come to me？' he asked sharply。 'Why don't
you consult a doctor whose special employment is the treatment of the
insane？'
She had her answer ready on the instant。
'I don't go to a doctor of that sort；' she said； 'for the very reason that he
is a specialist： he has the fatal habit of judging everybody by lines and
rules of his own laying down。 I come to you； because my case is outside
of all lines and rules； and because you are famous in your profession for
the discovery of mysteries in disease。 Are you satisfied？'
He was more than satisfiedhis first idea had been the right idea； after
all。 Besides； she was correctly informed as to his professional position。
The capacity which had raised him to fame and fortune was his capacity
（unrivalled among his brethren） for the discovery of remote disease。
'I am at your disposal；' he answered。 'Let me try if I can find out what
is the matter with you。'
He put his medical questions。 They were promptly and plainly
answered； and they led to no other conclusion than that the strange lady
was； mentally and physically； in excellent health。 Not satisfied with
questions； he carefully examined the great organs of life。 Neither his hand
nor his stethoscope could discover anything that was amiss。 With the
admirable patience and devotion to his art which had distinguished him
from the time when he was a student； he still subjected her to one test after
another。 The result was always the same。 Not only was there no
tendency to brain disease there was not even a perceptible derangement
of the nervous system。 'I can find nothing the matter with you；' he said。 'I
can't even account for the extraordinary pallor of your complexion。 You
completely puzzle me。'
'The pallor of my complexion is nothing；' she answered a little
impatiently。 'In my early life I had a narrow escape from death by
poisoning。 I have never had a complexion sinceand my skin is so
delicate； I cannot paint without producing a hideous rash。 But that is of no
importance。 I wanted your opinion given positively。 I believed in you；
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
and you have disappointed me。' Her head dropped on her breast。 'And
so it ends！' she said to herself bitterly。
The Doctor's sympathies were touched。 Perhaps it might be more
correct to say that his professional pride was a little hurt。 'It may end in the
right way yet；' he remarked； 'if you choose to help me。'
She looked up again with flashing eyes； 'Speak plainly；' she said。 'How
can I help you？'
'Plainly； madam； you come to me as an enigma； and you leave me to
make the right guess by the unaided efforts of my art。 My art will do
much； but not all。 For example； something must have occurred
something quite unconnected with the state of your bodily health to
frighten you about yourself； or you would never have come here to consult
me。 Is that true？'
She clasped her hands in her lap。 'That is true！' she said eagerly。 'I
begin to believe in you again。'
'Very well。 You can't expect me to find out the moral cause which
has alarmed you。 I can positively discover that there is no physical cause
of alarm； and （unless you admit me to your confidence） I can do no more。'
She rose； and took a turn in the room。 'Suppose I tell you？' she said。
'But； mind； I shall mention no names！'
'There is no need to mention names。 The facts are all I want。'
'The facts are nothing；' she rejoined。 'I have only my own
impressions to confessand you will very likely think me a fanciful fool
when you hear what they are。 No matter。 I will do my best to content
you I will begin with the facts that you want。 Take my word for it； they
won't do much to help you。'
She sat down again。 In the plainest possible words； she began the
strangest and wildest confession that had ever reached the Doctor's ears。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER II
'It is one fact； sir； that I am a widow；' she said。 'It is another fact；
that I am going to be married again。'
There she paused； and smiled at some thought that occurred to her。
Doctor Wybrow was not favourably impressed by her smile there was
something at once sad and cruel in it。 It came slowly； and it went away
suddenly。 He began to doubt whether he had been wise in acting on his
first impression。 His mind reverted to the commonplace patients and the
discoverable maladies that were waiting for him； with a certain tender
regret。
The lady went on。
'My approaching marriage；' she said； 'has one embarrassing
circumstance connected with it。 The gentleman whose wife I am to be；
was engaged to another lady when he happened to meet with me； abroad：
that lady； mind； being of his own blood and family； related to him as his
cousin。 I have innocently robbed her of her lover； and destroyed her
prospects in life。 Innocently； I saybecause he told me nothing of his
engagement until after I had accepted him。 When we next met in England…
…and when ther