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'If you had lived in the country； sir； instead of living in London；' Mrs。
Ferrari replied； 'you would sometimes have seen even a sheep turn on a
dog。 I am far from saying that I am a bold woman quite the reverse。
But when I stand in that wretch's presence； and think of my murdered
husband； the one of us two who is likely to be frightened is not me。 I am
going there now； sir。 You shall hear how it ends。 I wish you good…
morning。'
With those brave words the courier's wife gathered her mantle about
her； and walked out of the room。
Mr。 Troy smilednot satirically； but compassionately。 'The little
simpleton！' he thought to himself。 'If half of what they say of Lady
Montbarry is true； Mrs。 Ferrari and her trap have but a poor prospect
before them。 I wonder how it will end？'
All Mr。 Troy's experience failed to forewarn him of how it did end。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER X
In the mean time； Mrs。 Ferrari held to her resolution。 She went
straight from Mr。 Troy's office to Newbury's Hotel。
Lady Montbarry was at home； and alone。 But the authorities of the
hotel hesitated to disturb her when they found that the visitor declined to
mention her name。 Her ladyship's new maid happened to cross the hall
while the matter was still in debate。 She was a Frenchwoman； and； on
being appealed to； she settled the question in the swift； easy； rational
French way。 'Madame's appearance was perfectly respectable。 Madame
might have reasons for not mentioning her name which Miladi might
approve。 In any case； there being no orders forbidding the introduction of
a strange lady； the matter clearly rested between Madame and Miladi。
Would Madame； therefore； be good enough to follow Miladi's maid up the
stairs？'
In spite of her resolution； Mrs。 Ferrari's heart beat as if it would burst
out of her bosom； when her conductress led her into an ante…room； and
knocked at a door opening into a room beyond。 But it is remarkable that
persons of sensitively…nervous organisation are the very persons who are
capable of forcing themselves （apparently by the exercise of a spasmodic
effort of will） into the performance of acts of the most audacious courage。
A low； grave voice from the inner room said； 'Come in。' The maid；
opening the door； announced； 'A person to see you； Miladi； on business；'
and immediately retired。 In the one instant while these events passed；
timid little Mrs。 Ferrari mastered her own throbbing heart； stepped over
the threshold； conscious of her clammy hands； dry lips； and burning head；
and stood in the presence of Lord Montbarry's widow； to all outward
appearance as supremely self…possessed as her ladyship herself。
It was still early in the afternoon； but the light in the room was dim。
The blinds were drawn down。 Lady Montbarry sat with her back to the
windows； as if even the subdued daylight were disagreeable to her。 She
had altered sadly for the worse in her personal appearance； since the
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
memorable day when Doctor Wybrow had seen her in his consulting…room。
Her beauty was goneher face had fallen away to mere skin and bone； the
contrast between her ghastly complexion and her steely glittering black
eyes was more startling than ever。 Robed in dismal black； relieved only by
the brilliant whiteness of her widow's capreclining in a panther…like
suppleness of attitude on a little green sofashe looked at the stranger who
had intruded on her； with a moment's languid curiosity； then dropped her
eyes again to the hand…screen which she held between her face and the fire。
'I don't know you；' she said。 'What do you want with me？'
Mrs。 Ferrari tried to answer。 Her first burst of courage had already
worn itself out。 The bold words that she had determined to speak were
living words still in her mind； but they died on her lips。
There was a moment of silence。 Lady Montbarry looked round again
at the speechless stranger。 'Are you deaf？' she asked。 There was another
pause。 Lady Montbarry quietly looked back again at the screen； and put
another question。 'Do you want money？'
'Money！' That one word roused the sinking spirit of the courier's wife。
She recovered her courage； she found her voice。 'Look at me； my lady； if
you please；' she said； with a sudden outbreak of audacity。
Lady Montbarry looked round for the third time。 The fatal words
passed Mrs。 Ferrari's lips。
'I come； my lady； to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent to
Ferrari's widow。'
Lady Montbarry's glittering black eyes rested with steady attention on
the woman who had addressed her in those terms。 Not the faintest
expression of confusion or alarm； not even a momentary flutter of interest
stirred the deadly stillness of her face。 She reposed as quietly； she held the
screen as composedly； as ever。 The test had been tried； and had utterly
failed。
There was another silence。 Lady Montbarry considered with herself。
The smile that came slowly and went away suddenlythe smile at once so
sad and so cruelshowed itself on her thin lips。 She lifted her screen； and
pointed with it to a seat at the farther end of the room。 'Be so good as to
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
take that chair；' she said。
Helpless under her first bewildering sense of failurenot knowing
what to say or what to do nextMrs。 Ferrari mechanically obeyed。 Lady
Montbarry； rising on the sofa for the first time； watched her with
undisguised scrutiny as she crossed the roomthen sank back into a
reclining position once more。 'No；' she said to herself； 'the woman walks
steadily； she is not intoxicatedthe only other possibility is that she may
be mad。'
She had spoken loud enough to be heard。 Stung