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'Go on。'
Lord Montbarry turned the pages until he came to the next intelligible
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passage。
'Here；' he proceeded； 'is a double scene on the stageso far as I can
understand the sketch of it。 The Doctor is upstairs； innocently writing his
certificate of my Lord's decease； by the dead Courier's bedside。 Down in
the vaults； the Baron stands by the corpse of the poisoned lord； preparing
the strong chemical acids which are to reduce it to a heap of ashesSurely；
it is not worth while to trouble ourselves with deciphering such
melodramatic horrors as these？ Let us get on！ let us get on！'
He turned the leaves again； attempting vainly to discover the meaning
of the confused scenes that followed。 On the last page but one； he found
the last intelligible sentences。
'The Third Act seems to be divided；' he said； 'into two Parts or
Tableaux。 I think I can read the writing at the beginning of the Second
Part。 The Baron and the Countess open the scene。 The Baron's hands are
mysteriously concealed by gloves。 He has reduced the body to ashes by
his own system of cremation； with the exception of the head'
Henry interrupted his brother there。 'Don't read any more！' he
exclaimed。
'Let us do the Countess justice；' Lord Montbarry persisted。 'There are
not half a dozen lines more that I can make out！ The accidental breaking
of his jar of acid has burnt the Baron's hands severely。 He is still unable
to proceed to the destruction of the headand the Countess is woman
enough （with all her wickedness） to shrink from attempting to take his
placewhen the first news is received of the coming arrival of the
commission of inquiry despatched by the insurance offices。 The Baron
feels no alarm。 Inquire as the commission may； it is the natural death of
the Courier （in my Lord's character） that they are blindly investigating。
The head not being destroyed； the obvious alternative is to hide it and the
Baron is equal to the occasion。 His studies in the old library have
informed him of a safe place of concealment in the palace。 The Countess
may recoil from handling the acids and watching the process of cremation；
but she can surely sprinkle a little disinfecting powder'
'No more！' Henry reiterated。 'No more！'
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'There is no more that can be read； my dear fellow。 The last page
looks like sheer delirium。 She may well have told you that her invention
had failed her！'
'Face the truth honestly； Stephen； and say her memory。'
Lord Montbarry rose from the table at which he had been sitting； and
looked at his brother with pitying eyes。
'Your nerves are out of order； Henry；' he said。 'And no wonder； after
that frightful discovery under the hearth…stone。 We won't dispute about it；
we will wait a day or two until you are quite yourself again。 In the
meantime； let us understand each other on one point at least。 You leave the
question of what is to be done with these pages of writing to me； as the
head of the family？'
'I do。'
Lord Montbarry quietly took up the manuscript； and threw it into the
fire。 'Let this rubbish be of some use；' he said； holding the pages down
with the poker。 'The room is getting chilly the Countess's play will set
some of these charred logs flaming again。' He waited a little at the fire…
place； and returned to his brother。 'Now； Henry； I have a last word to say；
and then I have done。 I am ready to admit that you have stumbled； by an
unlucky chance； on the proof of a crime committed in the old days of the
palace； nobody knows how long ago。 With that one concession； I dispute
everything else。 Rather than agree in the opinion you have formed； I
won't believe anything that has happened。 The supernatural influences
that some of us felt when we first slept in this hotel your loss of appetite；
our sister's dreadful dreams； the smell that overpowered Francis； and the
head that appeared to AgnesI declare them all to be sheer delusions！ I
believe in nothing； nothing； nothing！' He opened the door to go out； and
looked back into the room。 'Yes；' he resumed； 'there is one thing I believe
in。 My wife has committed a breach of confidenceI believe Agnes will
marry you。 Good night； Henry。 We leave Venice the first thing to…
morrow morning。
So Lord Montbarry disposed of the mystery of The Haunted Hotel。
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POSTSCRIPT
A last chance of deciding the difference of opinion between the two
brothers remained in Henry's possession。 He had his own idea of the use
to which he might put the false teeth as a means of inquiry when he and
Ms fellow…travellers returned to England。
The only surviving depositary of the domestic history of the family in
past years； was Agnes Lockwood's old nurse。 Henry took his first
opportunity of trying to revive her personal recollections of the deceased
Lord Montbarry。 But the nurse had never forgiven the great man of the
family for his desertion of Agnes； she flatly refused to consult her memory。
'Even the bare sight of my lord； when I last saw him in London；' said the
old woman； 'made my finger…nails itch to set their mark on his face。 I was
sent on an errand by Miss Agnes； and I met him coming out of his dentist's
doorand； thank God； that's the last I ever saw of him！'
Thanks to the nurse's quick temper and quaint way of expressing
herself； the object of Henry's inquiries was gained already！ He ventured on
asking if she had noticed the situation of the house。 She had noticed； and
still remembered the situation did Master Henry suppose she had lost the
use of her senses； because she happened to be nigh on eighty years old？
The same day； he took the false teeth to the dentist； and set all further
doubt （if doubt had still been possible） at rest for ever。 The teeth had
been made for the first Lord Montbarry。
Henry never revealed the existence of