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Being asked by her husband what was the object which had brought that
formidable person to the house； she naturally mentioned the expected visit
of Miss Haldane。 Arthur Barville； unusually silent and pre…occupied so far；
suddenly struck into the conversation with a burst of enthusiasm。 'Miss
Haldane is the most charming girl in all Ireland！' he said。 'I caught sight of
her yesterday； over the wall of her garden； as I was riding by。 What time
is she coming to…morrow？ Before two？ I'll look into the drawing…room by
accidentI am dying to be introduced to her！'
Agnes was amused by his enthusiasm。 'Are you in love with Miss
Haldane already？' she asked。
Arthur answered gravely； 'It's no joking matter。 I have been all day at
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
the garden wall； waiting to see her again！ It depends on Miss Haldane to
make me the happiest or the wretchedest man living。'
'You foolish boy！ How can you talk such nonsense？'
He was talking nonsense undoubtedly。 But； if Agnes had only known
it； he was doing something more than that。 He was innocently leading
her another stage nearer on the way to Venice。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER XIV
As the summer months advanced； the transformation of the Venetian
palace into the modern hotel proceeded rapidly towards completion。 The
outside of the building； with its fine Palladian front looking on the canal；
was wisely left unaltered。 Inside； as a matter of necessity； the rooms
were almost rebuiltso far at least as the size and the arrangement of them
were concerned。 The vast saloons were partitioned off into 'apartments'
containing three or four rooms each。 The broad corridors in the upper
regions afforded spare space enough for rows of little bedchambers；
devoted to servants and to travellers with limited means。 Nothing was
spared but the solid floors and the finely…carved ceilings。 These last； in
excellent preservation as to workmanship； merely required cleaning； and
regilding here and there； to add greatly to the beauty and importance of the
best rooms in the hotel。 The only exception to the complete re…
organization of the interior was at one extremity of the edifice； on the first
and second floors。 Here there happened； in each case； to be rooms of such
comparatively moderate size； and so attractively decorated； that the
architect suggested leaving them as they were。 It was afterwards
discovered that these were no other than the apartments formerly occupied
by Lord Montbarry （on the first floor）； and by Baron Rivar （on the second）。
The room in which Montbarry had died was still fitted up as a bedroom；
and was now distinguished as Number Fourteen。 The room above it； in
which the Baron had slept； took its place on the hotel…register as Number
Thirty…Eight。 With the ornaments on the walls and ceilings cleaned and
brightened up； and with the heavy old…fashioned beds； chairs； and tables
replaced by bright； pretty； and luxurious modern furniture； these two
promised to be at once the most attractive and the most comfortable
bedchambers in the hotel。 As for the once…desolate and disused ground
floor of the building； it was now transformed； by means of splendid
dining…rooms； reception…rooms； billiard…rooms； and smoking…rooms； into a
palace by itself。 Even the dungeon…like vaults beneath； now lighted and
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
ventilated on the most approved modern plan； had been turned as if by
magic into kitchens； servants' offices； ice…rooms； and wine cellars； worthy
of the splendour of the grandest hotel in Italy； in the now bygone period of
seventeen years since。
Passing from the lapse of the summer months at Venice； to the lapse of
the summer months in Ireland； it is next to be recorded that Mrs。 Rolland
obtained the situation of attendant on the invalid Mrs。 Carbury； and that
the fair Miss Haldane； like a female Caesar； came； saw； and conquered； on
her first day's visit to the new Lord Montbarry's house。
The ladies were as loud in her praises as Arthur Barville himself。 Lord
Montbarry declared that she was the only perfectly pretty woman he had
ever seen； who was really unconscious of her own attractions。 The old
nurse said she looked as if she had just stepped out of a picture； and
wanted nothing but a gilt frame round her to make her complete。 Miss
Haldane； on her side； returned from her first visit to the Montbarrys
charmed with her new acquaintances。 Later on the same day； Arthur
called with an offering of fruit and flowers for Mrs。 Carbury； and with
instructions to ask if she was well enough to receive Lord and Lady
Montbarry and Miss Lockwood on the morrow。 In a week's time； the two
households were on the friendliest terms。 Mrs。 Carbury； confined to the
sofa by a spinal malady； had been hitherto dependent on her niece for one
of the few pleasures she could enjoy； the pleasure of having the best new
novels read to her as they came out。 Discovering this； Arthur volunteered
to relieve Miss Haldane； at intervals； in the office of reader。 He was clever
at mechanical contrivances of all sorts； and he introduced improvements in
Mrs。 Carbury's couch； and in the means of conveying her from the
bedchamber to the drawing…room； which alleviated the poor lady's
sufferings and brightened her gloomy life。 With these claims on the
gratitude of the aunt； aided by the personal advantages which he
unquestionably possessed； Arthur advanced rapidly in the favour of the
charming niece。 She was； it is needless to say； perfectly well aware that he
was in love with her； while he was himself modestly reticent on the
subject so far as words went。 But she was