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！
dress； as quickly as possible。 On her way back to the drawing…room she
was addressed by a chambermaid in the corridor who asked for her key。 'I
will put your room tidy for the night； Miss；' the woman said； 'and I will
then bring the key back to you in the drawing…room。'
While the chambermaid was at her work； a solitary lady； loitering
about the corridor of the second storey； was watching her over the
bannisters。 After a while； the maid appeared； with her pail in her hand；
leaving the room by way of the dressing…room and the back stairs。 As she
passed out of sight； the lady on the second floor （no other； it is needless to
add； than the Countess herself） ran swiftly down the stairs； entered the
bed…chamber by the principal door； and hid herself in the empty side
compartment of the wardrobe。 The chambermaid returned； completed her
work； locked the door of the dressing…room on the inner side； locked the
principal entrance…door on leaving the room； and returned the key to
Agnes in the drawing…room。
The travellers were just sitting down to their late dinner； when one of
the children noticed that Agnes was not wearing her watch。 Had she left it
in her bed…chamber in the hurry of changing her dress？ She rose from the
table at once in search of her watch； Lady Montbarry advising her； as she
went out； to see to the security of her bed…chamber； in the event of there
being thieves in the house。 Agnes found her watch； forgotten on the
toilet table； as she had anticipated。 Before leaving the room again she
acted on Lady Montbarry's advice； and tried the key in the lock of the
127
… Page 128…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
dressing…room door。 It was properly secured。 She left the bed…chamber；
locking the main door behind her。
Immediately on her departure； the Countess； oppressed by the confined
air in the wardrobe； ventured on stepping out of her hiding place into the
empty room。
Entering the dressing…room； she listened at the door； until the silence
outside informed her that the corridor was empty。 Upon this； she
unlocked the door； and； passing out； closed it again softly； leaving it to all
appearance （when viewed on the inner side） as carefully secured as Agnes
had seen it when she tried the key in the lock with her own hand。
While the Montbarrys were still at dinner； Henry Westwick joined
them； arriving from Milan。
When he entered the room； and again when he advanced to shake
hands with her； Agnes was conscious of a latent feeling which secretly
reciprocated Henry's unconcealed pleasure on meeting her again。 For a
moment only； she returned his look； and in that moment her own
observation told her that she had silently encouraged him to hope。 She saw
it in the sudden glow of happiness which overspread his face； and she
confusedly took refuge in the usual conventional inquiries relating to the
relatives whom he had left at Milan。
Taking his place at the table； Henry gave a most amusing account of
the position of his brother Francis between the mercenary opera…dancer on
one side； and the unscrupulous manager of the French theatre on the other。
Matters had proceeded to such extremities； that the law had been called on
to interfere； and had decided the dispute in favour of Francis。 On
winning the victory the English manager had at once left Milan； recalled
to London by the affairs of his theatre。 He was accompanied on the
journey back； as he had been accompanied on the journey out； by his sister。
Resolved； after passing two nights of terror in the Venetian hotel； never to
enter it again； Mrs。 Norbury asked to be excused from appearing at the
family festival； on the ground of ill…health。 At her age； travelling fatigued
her； and she was glad to take advantage of her brother's escort to return to
England。
128
… Page 129…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
While the talk at the dinner…table flowed easily onward； the evening…
time advanced to nightand it became necessary to think of sending the
children to bed。
As Agnes rose to leave the room； accompanied by the eldest girl； she
observed with surprise that Henry's manner suddenly changed。 He looked
serious and pre…occupied； and when his niece wished him good night； he
abruptly said to her； 'Marian； I want to know what part of the hotel you
sleep in？' Marian； puzzled by the question； answered that she was going
to sleep； as usual； with 'Aunt Agnes。' Not satisfied with that reply； Henry
next inquired whether the bedroom was near the rooms occupied by the
other members of the travelling party。 Answering for the child； and
wondering what Henry's object could possibly be； Agnes mentioned the
polite sacrifice made to her convenience by Mrs。 James。 'Thanks to that
lady's kindness；' she said； 'Marian and I are only on the other side of the
drawing…room。' Henry made no remark； he looked incomprehensibly
discontented as he opened the door for Agnes and her companion to pass
out。 After wishing them good night； he waited in the corridor until he saw
them enter the fatal corner…roomand then he called abruptly to his
brother； 'Come out； Stephen； and let us smoke！'
As soon as the two brothers were at liberty to speak together privately；
Henry explained the motive which had led to his strange inquiries about
the bedrooms。 Francis had informed him of the meeting with the
Countess at Venice； and of all that had followed it； and Henry now
carefully repeated the narrative to his brother in all its details。 'I am not
satisfied；' he added； 'about that woman's purpose in giving up her room。
Without alarming the ladies by telling them what I have just told you； can
you not warn Agnes to be careful in securing her door？'
Lord Montbarry replied； that the warning had been already given by
his wife； and that Agnes might be trusted to take good care of herself and
her little bed…fellow。 For the rest； he looked upon the story of the Countess
and her superstitions as a piece of theatrical exaggeration； amusing enough
in itself； but unworthy of a moment's serious attention。
While the gentlemen were absent from the h