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curious place of concealment has been kept in good order by the present
lord； as a species of curiosity。 He condescended to show me the method of
working it。 Approaching the two Caryatides； rest your hand on the
forehead （midway between the eyebrows） of the figure which is on your
left as you stand opposite to the fireplace； then press the head inwards as if
you were pushing it against the wall behind。 By doing this； you set in
motion the hidden machinery in the wall which turns the hearthstone on a
pivot； and discloses the hollow place below。 There is room enough in it for
a man to lie easily at full length。 The method of closing the cavity again is
equally simple。 Place both your hands on the temples of the figures； pull
as if you were pulling it towards youand the hearthstone will revolve into
its proper position again。
'You need read no farther；' said the Countess。 'Be careful to
remember what you have read。'
She put back the page of vellum in her writing…desk； locked it； and led
the way to the door。
'Come！' she said； 'and see what the mocking Frenchman called 〃The
beginning of the end。〃 '
Agnes was barely able to rise from her chair； she trembled from head
to foot。 Henry gave her his arm to support her。 'Fear nothing；' he
whispered； 'I shall be with you。'
The Countess proceeded along the westward corridor； and stopped at
the door numbered Thirty…eight。 This was the room which had been
inhabited by Baron Rivar in the old days of the palace： it was situated
immediately over the bedchamber in which Agnes had passed the night。
For the last two days the room had been empty。 The absence of luggage in
it； when they opened the door； showed that it had not yet been let。
'You see？' said the Countess； pointing to the carved figure at the fire…
place； 'and you know what to do。 Have I deserved that you should
temper justice with mercy？' she went on in lower tones。 'Give me a few
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hours more to myself。 The Baron wants money I must get on with my
play。'
She smiled vacantly； and imitated the action of writing with her right
hand as she pronounced the last words。 The effort of concentrating her
weakened mind on other and less familiar topics than the constant want of
money in the Baron's lifetime； and the vague prospect of gain from the
still unfinished play； had evidently exhausted her poor reserves of strength。
When her request had been granted； she addressed no expressions of
gratitude to Agnes； she only said； 'Feel no fear； miss； of my attempting to
escape you。 Where you are； there I must be till the end comes。'
Her eyes wandered round the room with a last weary and stupefied
look。 She returned to her writing with slow and feeble steps； like the steps
of an old woman。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER XXIV
Henry and Agnes were left alone in the Room of the Caryatides。
The person who had written the description of the palace probably a
poor author or artisthad correctly pointed out the defects of the mantel…
piece。 Bad taste； exhibiting itself on the most costly and splendid scale；
was visible in every part of the work。 It was nevertheless greatly
admired by ignorant travellers of all classes； partly on account of its
imposing size； and partly on account of the number of variously…coloured
marbles which the sculptor had contrived to introduce into his design。
Photographs of the mantel…piece were exhibited in the public rooms； and
found a ready sale among English and American visitors to the hotel。
Henry led Agnes to the figure on the left； as they stood facing the
empty fire…place。 'Shall I try the experiment；' he asked； 'or will you？' She
abruptly drew her arm away from him； and turned back to the door。 'I can't
even look at it；' she said。 'That merciless marble face frightens me！'
Henry put his hand on the forehead of the figure。 'What is there to
alarm you； my dear； in this conventionally classical face？' he asked
jestingly。 Before he could press the head inwards； Agnes hurriedly
opened the door。 'Wait till I am out of the room！' she cried。 'The bare
idea of what you may find there horrifies me！' She looked back into the
room as she crossed the threshold。 'I won't leave you altogether；' she said；
'I will wait outside。'
She closed the door。 Left by himself； Henry lifted his hand once
more to the marble forehead of the figure。
For the second time； he was checked on the point of setting the
machinery of the hiding…place in motion。 On this occasion； the
interruption came from an outbreak of friendly voices in the corridor。 A
woman's voice exclaimed； 'Dearest Agnes； how glad I am to see you
again！' A man's voice followed； offering to introduce some friend to
'Miss Lockwood。' A third voice （which Henry recognised as the voice of
the manager of the hotel） became audible next； directing the housekeeper
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to show the ladies and gentlemen the vacant apartments at the other end of
the corridor。 'If more accommodation is wanted；' the manager went on； 'I
have a charming room to let here。' He opened the door as he spoke； and
found himself face to face with Henry Westwick。
'This is indeed an agreeable surprise； sir！' said the manager cheerfully。
'You are admiring our famous chimney…piece； I see。 May I ask； Mr。
Westwick； how you find yourself in the hotel； this time？ Have the
supernatural influences affected your appetite again？'
'The supernatural influences have spared me； this time；' Henry
answered。 'Perhaps you may yet find that they have affected some other
member of the family。' He spoke gravely； resenting the familiar tone in
which the manager had referred to his previous visit to the hotel。 'Have
you