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will be easily discovered at the Italian Couriers' Office； Golden Square。
'Having arrived at the close of the present report； we have now to draw
your attention to the conclusion which is justified by the results of our
investigation。
'The plain question before our Directors and ourselves appears to be
this： Has the inquiry revealed any extraordinary circumstances which
render the death of Lord Montbarry open to suspicion？ The inquiry has
revealed extraordinary circumstances beyond all doubtsuch as the
disappearance of Ferrari； the remarkable absence of the customary
establishment of servants in the house； and the mysterious letter which his
lordship asked the doctor to post。 But where is the proof that any one of
these circumstances is associatedsuspiciously and directly associated
with the only event which concerns us； the event of Lord Montbarry's
death？ In the absence of any such proof； and in the face of the evidence of
two eminent physicians； it is impossible to dispute the statement on the
certificate that his lordship died a natural death。 We are bound； therefore；
to report； that there are no valid grounds for refusing the payment of the
sum for which the late Lord Montbarry's life was assured。
'We shall send these lines to you by the post of to…morrow； December
10； leaving time to receive your further instructions （if any）； in reply to
our telegram of this evening announcing the conclusion of the inquiry。'
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER IX
'Now； my good creature； whatever you have to say to me； out with it
at once！ I don't want to hurry you needlessly； but these are business
hours； and I have other people's affairs to attend to besides yours。'
Addressing Ferrari's wife； with his usual blunt good…humour； in these
terms； Mr。 Troy registered the lapse of time by a glance at the watch on his
desk； and then waited to hear what his client had to say to him。
'It's something more； sir； about the letter with the thousand…pound
note；' Mrs。 Ferrari began。 'I have found out who sent it to me。'
Mr。 Troy started。 'This is news indeed！' he said。 'Who sent you the
letter？'
'Lord Montbarry sent it； sir。'
It was not easy to take Mr。 Troy by surprise。 But Mrs。 Ferrari threw
him completely off his balance。 For a while he could only look at her in
silent surprise。 'Nonsense！' he said； as soon as he had recovered himself。
'There is some mistake it can't be！'
'There is no mistake；' Mrs。 Ferrari rejoined； in her most positive
manner。 'Two gentlemen from the insurance offices called on me this
morning； to see the letter。 They were completely puzzledespecially
when they heard of the bank…note inside。 But they know who sent the
letter。 His lordship's doctor in Venice posted it at his lordship's request。 Go
to the gentlemen yourself； sir； if you don't believe me。 They were polite
enough to ask if I could account for Lord Montbarry's writing to me and
sending me the money。 I gave them my opinion directly I said it was
like his lordship's kindness。'
'Like his lordship's kindness？' Mr。 Troy repeated； in blank
amazement。
'Yes； sir！ Lord Montbarry knew me； like all the other members of his
family； when I was at school on the estate in Ireland。 If he could have done
it； he would have protected my poor dear husband。 But he was helpless
himself in the hands of my lady and the Baron and the only kind thing he
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
could do was to provide for me in my widowhood； like the true nobleman
he was！'
'A very pretty explanation！' said Mr。 Troy。 'What did your visitors
from the insurance offices think of it？'
'They asked if I had any proof of my husband's death。'
'And what did you say？'
'I said； 〃I give you better than proof； gentlemen； I give you my positive
opinion。〃'
'That satisfied them； of course？'
'They didn't say so in words； sir。 They looked at each other and
wished me good…morning。'
'Well； Mrs。 Ferrari； unless you have some more extraordinary news for
me； I think I shall wish you good…morning too。 I can take a note of your
information （very startling information； I own）； and； in the absence of
proof； I can do no more。'
'I can provide you with proof； sirif that is all you want；' said Mrs。
Ferrari； with great dignity。 'I only wish to know； first； whether the law
justifies me in doing it。 You may have seen in the fashionable intelligence
of the newspapers； that Lady Montbarry has arrived in London； at
Newbury's Hotel。 I propose to go and see her。'
'The deuce you do！ May I ask for what purpose？'
Mrs。 Ferrari answered in a mysterious whisper。 'For the purpose of
catching her in a trap！ I shan't send in my nameI shall announce myself
as a person on business； and the first words I say to her will be these： 〃I
come； my lady； to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent to Ferrari's
widow。〃 Ah！ you may well start； Mr。 Troy！ It almost takes you off your
guard； doesn't it？ Make your mind easy； sir； I shall find the proof that
everybody asks me for in her guilty face。 Let her only change colour by
the shadow of a shadelet her eyes only drop for half an instant I shall
discover her！ The one thing I want to know is； does the law permit it？'
'The law permits it；' Mr。 Troy answered gravely； 'but whether her
ladyship will permit it； is quite another question。 Have you really
courage enough； Mrs。 Ferrari； to carry out this notable scheme of yours？
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
You have been described to me； by Miss Lockwood； as rather a nervous；
timid sort of personand； if I may trust my own observation； I should say
you justify the description。'
'If you had lived in the country； sir； instead of living in London；' Mrs。
Ferrari replied； 'you would sometimes have seen even a sheep