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hesitation； and sympathising of course with the man； put in a timely word
for Henry。 'He says； he's going away； my dear； and he only wants to
shake hands； and say good…bye。' This plain statement of the case had its
effect。 Agnes decided on receiving her cousin。
He entered the room so rapidly that he surprised her in the act of
throwing the fragments of Montbarry's last letter into the fire。 She
hurriedly spoke first。
'You are leaving London very suddenly； Henry。 Is it business？ or
pleasure？'
Instead of answering her； he pointed to the flaming letter； and to some
black ashes of burnt paper lying lightly in the lower part of the fireplace。
'Are you burning letters？'
'Yes。'
'His letters？'
'Yes。'
He took her hand gently。 'I had no idea I was intruding on you； at a
time when you must wish to be alone。 Forgive me； AgnesI shall see
you when I return。'
She signed to him； with a faint smile； to take a chair。
'We have known one another since we were children；' she said。 'Why
should I feel a foolish pride about myself in your presence？ why should I
have any secrets from you？ I sent back all your brother's gifts to me
some time ago。 I have been advised to do more； to keep nothing that can
remind me of himin short； to burn his letters。 I have taken the advice； but
I own I shrank a little from destroying the last of the letters。 Nonot
because it was the last； but because it had this in it。' She opened her hand；
and showed him a lock of Montbarry's hair； tied with a morsel of golden
cord。 'Well！ well！ let it go with the rest。'
She dropped it into the flame。 For a while； she stood with her back to
Henry； leaning on the mantel…piece； and looking into the fire。 He took the
chair to which she had pointed； with a strange contradiction of expression
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
in his face： the tears were in his eyes； while the brows above were knit
close in an angry frown。 He muttered to himself； 'Damn him！'
She rallied her courage； and looked at him again when she spoke。
'Well； Henry； and why are you going away？'
'I am out of spirits； Agnes； and I want a change。'
She paused before she spoke again。 His face told her plainly that he
was thinking of her when he made that reply。 She was grateful to him；
but her mind was not with him： her mind was still with the man who had
deserted her。 She turned round again to the fire。
'Is it true；' she asked； after a long silence； 'that they have been married
to…day？'
He answered ungraciously in the one necessary word：'Yes。'
'Did you go to the church？'
He resented the question with an expression of indignant surprise。 'Go
to the church？' he repeated。 'I would as soon go to' He checked himself
there。 'How can you ask？' he added in lower tones。 'I have never spoken
to Montbarry； I have not even seen him； since he treated you like the
scoundrel and the fool that he is。'
She looked at him suddenly； without saying a word。 He understood her；
and begged her pardon。 But he was still angry。 'The reckoning comes to
some men；' he said； 'even in this world。 He will live to rue the day when he
married that woman！'
Agnes took a chair by his side； and looked at him with a gentle
surprise。
'Is it quite reasonable to be so angry with her； because your brother
preferred her to me？' she asked。
Henry turned on her sharply。 'Do you defend the Countess； of all the
people in the world？'
'Why not？' Agnes answered。 'I know nothing against her。 On the
only occasion when we met； she appeared to be a singularly timid； nervous
person； looking dreadfully ill； and being indeed so ill that she fainted
under the heat of my room。 Why should we not do her justice？ We know
that she was innocent of any intention to wrong me； we know that she was
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
not aware of my engagement'
Henry lifted his hand impatiently； and stopped her。 'There is such a
thing as being too just and too forgiving！' he interposed。 'I can't bear to
hear you talk in that patient way； after the scandalously cruel manner in
which you have been treated。 Try to forget them both； Agnes。 I wish to
God I could help you to do it！'
Agnes laid her hand on his arm。 'You are very good to me； Henry；
but you don't quite understand me。 I was thinking of myself and my
trouble in quite a different way； when you came in。 I was wondering
whether anything which has so entirely filled my heart； and so absorbed
all that is best and truest in me； as my feeling for your brother； can really
pass away as if it had never existed。 I have destroyed the last visible things
that remind me of him。 In this world I shall see him no more。 But is the
tie that once bound us； completely broken？ Am I as entirely parted from
the good and evil fortune of his life as if we had never met and never
loved？ What do you think； Henry？ I can hardly believe it。'
'If you could bring the retribution on him that he has deserved；' Henry
Westwick answered sternly； 'I might be inclined to agree with you。'
As that reply passed his lips； the old nurse appeared again at the door；
announcing another visitor。
'I'm sorry to disturb you； my dear。 But here is little Mrs。 Ferrari
wanting to know when she may say a few words to you。'
Agnes turned to Henry； before she replied。 'You remember Emily
Bidwell； my favourite pupil years ago at the village school； and afterwards
my maid？ She left me； to marry an Italian courier； named Ferrariand I
am afraid it has not turned out very well。 Do you mind my having her in
here for a minute or two？'
Henry rose to take his leave。 'I should be glad to see Emily again at
any other time；' he said。 'But it is best that I should go now。 My mind is
disturbed； Agnes； I might say things to you； if I stayed here any longer；
whichwhich are better not said now。 I shall cross the Channel by the mail
to…night； and see how