按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'Because I couldn't help it；' she answered。
Francis looked at her with cynical curiosity。 'That sounds odd；' he
remarked。 'Why couldn't you help it？'
'Women are accustomed to act on impulse；' she explained。 'Suppose we
say that an impulse has directed my journey？ And yet； this is the last
place in the world that I wish to find myself in。 Associations that I detest
are connected with it in my mind。 If I had a will of my own； I would never
see it again。 I hate Venice。 As you see； however； I am here。 When did
you meet with such an unreasonable woman before？ Never； I am sure！'
She stopped； eyed him for a moment； and suddenly altered her tone。
'When is Miss Agnes Lockwood expected to be in Venice？' she asked。
It was not easy to throw Francis off his balance； but that extraordinary
question did it。 'How the devil did you know that Miss Lockwood was
coming to Venice？' he exclaimed。
She laugheda bitter mocking laugh。 'Say； I guessed it！'
Something in her tone； or perhaps something in the audacious defiance
of her eyes as they rested on him； roused the quick temper that was in
Francis Warwick。 'Lady Montbarry！' he began。
'Stop there！' she interposed。 'Your brother Stephen's wife calls herself
Lady Montbarry now。 I share my title with no woman。 Call me by my
name before I committed the fatal mistake of marrying your brother。
Address me； if you please； as Countess Narona。'
'Countess Narona；' Francis resumed； 'if your object in claiming my
acquaintance is to mystify me； you have come to the wrong man。 Speak
plainly； or permit me to wish you good evening。'
'If your object is to keep Miss Lockwood's arrival in Venice a secret；'
she retorted； 'speak plainly； Mr。 Westwick； on your side； and say so。'
Her intention was evidently to irritate him； and she succeeded。
'Nonsense！' he broke out petulantly。 'My brother's travelling
arrangements are secrets to nobody。 He brings Miss Lockwood here；
with Lady Montbarry and the children。 As you seem so well informed；
perhaps you know why she is coming to Venice？'
The Countess had suddenly become grave and thoughtful。 She made
110
… Page 111…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
no reply。 The two strangely associated companions； having reached one
extremity of the square； were now standing before the church of St。 Mark。
The moonlight was bright enough to show the architecture of the grand
cathedral in its wonderful variety of detail。 Even the pigeons of St。 Mark
were visible； in dark closely packed rows； roosting in the archways of the
great entrance doors。
'I never saw the old church look so beautiful by moonlight；' the
Countess said quietly； speaking； not to Francis； but to herself。 'Good…bye；
St。 Mark's by moonlight！ I shall not see you again。'
She turned away from the church； and saw Francis listening to her
with wondering looks。 'No；' she resumed； placidly picking up the lost
thread of the conversation； 'I don't know why Miss Lockwood is coming
here； I only know that we are to meet in Venice。'
'By previous appointment？'
'By Destiny；' she answered； with her head on her breast； and her eyes
on the ground。 Francis burst out laughing。 'Or； if you like it better；' she
instantly resumed； 'by what fools call Chance。' Francis answered easily；
out of the depths of his strong common sense。 'Chance seems to be taking
a queer way of bringing the meeting about；' he said。 'We have all
arranged to meet at the Palace Hotel。 How is it that your name is not on
the Visitors' List？ Destiny ought to have brought you to the Palace Hotel
too。'
She abruptly pulled down her veil。 'Destiny may do that yet！' she
said。 'The Palace Hotel？' she repeated； speaking once more to herself。 'The
old hell； transformed into the new purgatory。 The place itself！ Jesu Maria！
the place itself！' She paused and laid her hand on her companion's arm。
'Perhaps Miss Lockwood is not going there with the rest of you？' she burst
out with sudden eagerness。 'Are you positively sure she will be at the
hotel？'
'Positively！ Haven't I told you that Miss Lockwood travels with Lord
and Lady Montbarry？ and don't you know that she is a member of the
family？ You will have to move； Countess； to our hotel。'
She was perfectly impenetrable to the bantering tone in which he
111
… Page 112…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
spoke。 'Yes；' she said faintly； 'I shall have to move to your hotel。' Her hand
was still on his armhe could feel her shivering from head to foot while
she spoke。 Heartily as he disliked and distrusted her； the common
instinct of humanity obliged him to ask if she felt cold。
'Yes；' she said。 'Cold and faint。'
'Cold and faint； Countess； on such a night as this？'
'The night has nothing to do with it； Mr。 Westwick。 How do you
suppose the criminal feels on the scaffold； while the hangman is putting
the rope around his neck？ Cold and faint； too； I should think。 Excuse my
grim fancy。 You see； Destiny has got the rope round my neck and I feel
it。'
She looked about her。 They were at that moment close to the famous
cafe known as 'Florian's。' 'Take me in there；' she said； 'I must have
something to revive me。 You had better not hesitate。 You are interested
in reviving me。 I have not said what I wanted to say to you yet。 It's
business； and it's connected with your theatre。'
Wondering inwardly what she could possibly want with his theatre；
Francis reluctantly yielded to the necessities of the situation； and took her
into the cafe。 He found a quiet corner in which they could take their
places without attracting notice。 'What will you have？' he inquired
resignedly。 She gave her own orders to the waiter； without troubling him
to speak for her。
'Maraschino。 And a pot of tea。'
The waiter stared； Francis stared。 The