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！
person who told her what had become of Ferrari； if she forced me to it。
Shall I feel some other influence than hers？ Will he force me to it？ When
she sees him； shall I see him too？'
Her head sank a little； her heavy eyelids dropped slowly； she heaved a
long low weary sigh。 Francis put her arm in his； and made an attempt to
rouse her。
'Come； Countess； you are weary and over…wrought。 We have had
enough talking to…night。 Let me see you safe back to your hotel。 Is it far
from here？'
She started when he moved； and obliged her to move with him； as if he
had suddenly awakened her out of a deep sleep。
'Not far；' she said faintly。 'The old hotel on the quay。 My mind's in a
strange state； I have forgotten the name。'
'Danieli's？'
'Yes！'
He led her on slowly。 She accompanied him in silence as far as the
end of the Piazzetta。 There； when the full view of the moonlit Lagoon
revealed itself； she stopped him as he turned towards the Riva degli
Schiavoni。 'I have something to ask you。 I want to wait and think。'
118
… Page 119…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
She recovered her lost idea； after a long pause。
'Are you going to sleep in the room to…night？' she asked。
He told her that another traveller was in possession of the room that
night。 'But the manager has reserved it for me to…morrow；' he added； 'if I
wish to have it。'
'No；' she said。 'You must give it up。'
'To whom？'
'To me！'
He started。 'After what I have told you； do you really wish to sleep in
that room to…morrow night？'
'I must sleep in it。'
'Are you not afraid？'
'I am horribly afraid。'
'So I should have thought； after what I have observed in you to…night。
Why should you take the room？ you are not obliged to occupy it； unless
you like。'
'I was not obliged to go to Venice； when I left America；' she answered。
'And yet I came here。 I must take the room； and keep the room； until'
She broke off at those words。 'Never mind the rest；' she said。 'It doesn't
interest you。'
It was useless to dispute with her。 Francis changed the subject。 'We
can do nothing to…night；' he said。 'I will call on you to…morrow morning；
and hear what you think of it then。'
They moved on again to the hotel。 As they approached the door；
Francis asked if she was staying in Venice under her own name。
She shook her head。 'As your brother's widow； I am known here。 As
Countess Narona； I am known here。 I want to be unknown； this time； to
strangers in Venice； I am travelling under a common English name。' She
hesitated； and stood still。 'What has come to me？' she muttered to herself。
'Some things I remember； and some I forget。 I forgot Danieli'sand now I
forget my English name。' She drew him hurriedly into the hall of the hotel；
on the wall of which hung a list of visitors' names。 Running her finger
slowly down the list； she pointed to the English name that she had
119
… Page 120…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
assumed：'Mrs。 James。'
'Remember that when you call to…morrow；' she said。 'My head is
heavy。 Good night。'
Francis went back to his own hotel； wondering what the events of the
next day would bring forth。 A new turn in his affairs had taken place in
his absence。 As he crossed the hall； he was requested by one of the
servants to walk into the private office。 The manager was waiting there
with a gravely pre…occupied manner； as if he had something serious to say。
He regretted to hear that Mr。 Francis Westwick had； like other members of
the family； discovered serious sources of discomfort in the new hotel。 He
had been informed in strict confidence of Mr。 Westwick's extraordinary
objection to the atmosphere of the bedroom upstairs。 Without presuming
to discuss the matter； he must beg to be excused from reserving the room
for Mr。 Westwick after what had happened。
Francis answered sharply； a little ruffled by the tone in which the
manager had spoken to him。 'I might； very possibly； have declined to
sleep in the room； if you had reserved it；' he said。 'Do you wish me to
leave the hotel？'
The manager saw the error that he had committed； and hastened to
repair it。 'Certainly not； sir！ We will do our best to make you
comfortable while you stay with us。 I beg your pardon； if I have said
anything to offend you。 The reputation of an establishment like this is a
matter of very serious importance。 May I hope that you will do us the
great favour to say nothing about what has happened upstairs？ The two
French gentlemen have kindly promised to keep it a secret。'
This apology left Francis no polite alternative but to grant the
manager's request。 'There is an end to the Countess's wild scheme；' he
thought to himself； as he retired for the night。 'So much the better for the
Countess！'
He rose late the next morning。 Inquiring for his Parisian friends； he
was informed that both the French gentlemen had left for Milan。 As he
crossed the hall； on his way to the restaurant； he noticed the head porter
chalking the numbers of the rooms on some articles of luggage which
120
… Page 121…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
were waiting to go upstairs。 One trunk attracted his attention by the
extraordinary number of old travelling labels left on it。 The porter was
marking it at the momentand the number was； '13 A。' Francis instantly
looked at the card fastened on the lid。 It bore the common English name；
'Mrs。 James'！ He at once inquired about the lady。 She had arrived early
that morning； and she was then in the Reading Room。 Looking into the
room； he discovered a lady in it alone。 Advancing a little nearer； he found
himself face to face with the Countess。
She was seated in a dark corner； with her head down and her arms
crossed over her bosom。 'Yes；' she said； in a tone of weary impatience