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negative sort he was not in the least like his sister。 Even the officiating
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
priest was only a harmless； humble…looking old man； who went through
his duties resignedly； and felt visible rheumatic difficulties every time he
bent his knees。 The one remarkable person； the Countess herself； only
raised her veil at the beginning of the ceremony； and presented nothing in
her plain dress that was worth a second look。 Never； on the face of it；
was there a less interesting and less romantic marriage than this。 From
time to time the Doctor glanced round at the door or up at the galleries；
vaguely anticipating the appearance of some protesting stranger； in
possession of some terrible secret； commissioned to forbid the progress of
the service。 Nothing in the shape of an event occurred nothing
extraordinary； nothing dramatic。 Bound fast together as man and wife；
the two disappeared； followed by their witnesses； to sign the registers； and
still Doctor Wybrow waited； and still he cherished the obstinate hope that
something worth seeing must certainly happen yet。
The interval passed； and the married couple； returning to the church；
walked together down the nave to the door。 Doctor Wybrow drew back
as they approached。 To his confusion and surprise； the Countess
discovered him。 He heard her say to her husband； 'One moment； I see a
friend。' Lord Montbarry bowed and waited。 She stepped up to the Doctor；
took his hand； and wrung it hard。 He felt her overpowering black eyes
looking at him through her veil。 'One step more； you see； on the way to
the end！' She whispered those strange words； and returned to her husband。
Before the Doctor could recover himself and follow her； Lord and Lady
Montbarry had stepped into their carriage； and had driven away。
Outside the church door stood the three or four members of the club
who； like Doctor Wybrow； had watched the ceremony out of curiosity。
Near them was the bride's brother； waiting alone。 He was evidently bent
on seeing the man whom his sister had spoken to； in broad daylight。 His
bold eyes rested on the Doctor's face； with a momentary flash of suspicion
in them。 The cloud suddenly cleared away； the Baron smiled with
charming courtesy； lifted his hat to his sister's friend； and walked off。
The members constituted themselves into a club conclave on the
church steps。 They began with the Baron。 'Damned ill…looking rascal！'
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They went on with Montbarry。 'Is he going to take that horrid woman
with him to Ireland？' 'Not he！ he can't face the tenantry； they know about
Agnes Lockwood。' 'Well； but where is he going？' 'To Scotland。' 'Does
she like that？' 'It's only for a fortnight； they come back to London； and
go abroad。' 'And they will never return to England； eh？' 'Who can tell？
Did you see how she looked at Montbarry； when she had to lift her veil at
the beginning of the service？ In his place； I should have bolted。 Did you
see her； Doctor？' By this time； Doctor Wybrow had remembered his
patients； and had heard enough of the club gossip。 He followed the
example of Baron Rivar； and walked off。
'One step more； you see； on the way to the end；' he repeated to himself；
on his way home。 'What end？'
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CHAPTER IV
On the day of the marriage Agnes Lockwood sat alone in the little
drawing…room of her London lodgings； burning the letters which had been
written to her by Montbarry in the bygone time。
The Countess's maliciously smart description of her； addressed to
Doctor Wybrow； had not even hinted at the charm that most distinguished
Agnesthe artless expression of goodness and purity which instantly
attracted everyone who approached her。 She looked by many years
younger than she really was。 With her fair complexion and her shy
manner； it seemed only natural to speak of her as 'a girl；' although she was
now really advancing towards thirty years of age。 She lived alone with
an old nurse devoted to her； on a modest little income which was just
enough to support the two。 There were none of the ordinary signs of grief
in her face； as she slowly tore the letters of her false lover in two； and
threw the pieces into the small fire which had been lit to consume them。
Unhappily for herself； she was one of those women who feel too deeply to
find relief in tears。 Pale and quiet； with cold trembling fingers； she
destroyed the letters one by one without daring to read them again。 She
had torn the last of the series； and was still shrinking from throwing it after
the rest into the swiftly destroying flame； when the old nurse came in； and
asked if she would see 'Master Henry；' meaning that youngest member of
the Westwick family； who had publicly declared his contempt for his
brother in the smoking…room of the club。
Agnes hesitated。 A faint tinge of colour stole over her face。
There had been a long past time when Henry Westwick had owned that
he loved her。 She had made her confession to him； acknowledging that
her heart was given to his eldest brother。 He had submitted to his
disappointment； and they had met thenceforth as cousins and friends。
Never before had she associated the idea of him with embarrassing
recollections。 But now； on the very day when his brother's marriage to
another woman had consummated his brother's treason towards her； there
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was something vaguely repellent in the prospect of seeing him。 The old
nurse （who remembered them both in their cradles） observed her
hesitation； and sympathisin