the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第1节
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
THE HAUNTED
HOTEL A Mystery of
Modern Venice
by Wilkie Collins （1824…1889）
（after the edition of Chatto & Windus； London； 1879）
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER I
In the year 1860； the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London
physician reached its highest point。 It was reported on good authority
that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from the
practice of medicine in modern times。
One afternoon； towards the close of the London season； the Doctor had
just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work in his
consulting…room； and with a formidable list of visits to patients at their
own houses to fill up the rest of his day when the servant announced that
a lady wished to speak to him。
'Who is she？' the Doctor asked。 'A stranger？'
'Yes； sir。'
'I see no strangers out of consulting…hours。 Tell her what the hours are；
and send her away。'
'I have told her； sir。'
'Well？'
'And she won't go。'
'Won't go？' The Doctor smiled as he repeated the words。 He was a
humourist in his way； and there was an absurd side to the situation which
rather amused him。 'Has this obstinate lady given you her name？' he
inquired。
'No； sir。 She refused to give any nameshe said she wouldn't keep
you five minutes； and the matter was too important to wait till to…morrow。
There she is in the consulting…room； and how to get her out again is more
than I know。'
Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment。 His knowledge of women
（professionally speaking） rested on the ripe experience of more than thirty
years； he had met with them in all their varieties especially the variety
which knows nothing of the value of time； and never hesitates at sheltering
itself behind the privileges of its sex。 A glance at his watch informed him
that he must soon begin his rounds among the patients who were waiting
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
for him at their own houses。 He decided forthwith on taking the only wise
course that was open under the circumstances。 In other words； he
decided on taking to flight。
'Is the carriage at the door？' he asked。
'Yes； sir。'
'Very well。 Open the house…door for me without making any noise；
and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting…room。
When she gets tired of waiting； you know what to tell her。 If she asks
when I am expected to return； say that I dine at my club； and spend the
evening at the theatre。 Now then； softly； Thomas！ If your shoes creak； I
am a lost man。'
He noiselessly led the way into the hall； followed by the servant on
tip…toe。
Did the lady in the consulting…room suspect him？ or did Thomas's
shoes creak； and was her sense of hearing unusually keen？ Whatever the
explanation may be； the event that actually happened was beyond all doubt。
Exactly as Doctor Wybrow passed his consulting…room； the door opened
the lady appeared on the threshold and laid her hand on his arm。
'I entreat you； sir； not to go away without letting me speak to you first。'
The accent was foreign； the tone was low and firm。 Her fingers
closed gently； and yet resolutely； on the Doctor's arm。
Neither her language nor her action had the slightest effect in inclining
him to grant her request。 The influence that instantly stopped him； on the
way to his carriage； was the silent influence of her face。 The startling
contrast between the corpse…like pallor of her complexion and the
overpowering life and light； the glittering metallic brightness in her large
black eyes； held him literally spell…bound。 She was dressed in dark colours；
with perfect taste； she was of middle height； and （apparently） of middle
agesay a year or two over thirty。 Her lower featuresthe nose； mouth；
and chin possessed the fineness and delicacy of form which is oftener
seen among women of foreign races than among women of English birth。
She was unquestionably a handsome personwith the one serious
drawback of her ghastly complexion； and with the less noticeable defect of
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
a total want of tenderness in the expression of her eyes。 Apart from his
first emotion of surprise； the feeling she produced in the Doctor may be
described as an overpowering feeling of professional curiosity。 The case
might prove to be something entirely new in his professional experience。
'It looks like it；' he thought； 'and it's worth waiting for。'
She perceived that she she had produced a strong impression of some
kind upon him； and dropped her hold on his arm。
'You have comforted many miserable women in your time；' she said。
'Comfort one more； to…day。'
Without waiting to be answered； she led the way back into the room。
The Doctor followed her； and closed the door。 He placed her in the
patients' chair； opposite the windows。 Even in London the sun； on that
summer afternoon； was dazzlingly bright。 The radiant light flowed in on
her。 Her eyes met it unflinchingly； with the steely steadiness of the eyes
of an eagle。 The smooth pallor of her unwrinkled skin looked more
fearfully white than ever。 For the first time； for many a long year past； the
Doctor felt his pulse quicken its beat in the presence of a patient。
Having possessed herself of his attention； she appeared； strangely
enough； to have nothing to say to him。 A curious apathy seemed to have
taken possession of this resolute woman。 Forced to speak first； the
Doctor merely inquired； in the conventional phrase； what he could do for
her。
The sound of his voice seemed to rouse her。 Still looking straight at
the light； she said abruptly： 'I have a painful question to ask。'
'What is it？'
Her eyes travelled slowly from the window to the Doctor's face。
Without the slightest outward appearance of agitation； she put the 'painful
question' in these extraordinary words：
'I want to know； if you please； whether I am in danger of going mad？'
Some men might have been amused； and some might have been
alarmed。 Doctor Wybrow was only conscious of a sense of disappointment。
Was this the rare case that he had anticipated； judging rashly by
appearances？ Was the new patient only a hypochondriacal woman；
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
whose malady was a disordered stomach and whose misfortune was a
weak brain？ 'Why do you come to me？' he asked sharply。 'Why don't
you consult a doctor whose special employment is the treatment of the
insane？'
She had her answer ready on the instant。
'I don't go to a doctor of that sort；' she said； 'for the very reason that he
is a specialist： he has the fatal habit of judging everybody by lines and
rules of his own laying down。 I come to you； because my case is outside
of all lines and rules； and because you are famous in your profession for
the discovery of mysteries in disease。 Are you satisfied？'
He was more than satisfiedhis first idea had been the right idea； after
all。 Besides； she was correctly informed as to his professional position。
The capacity which had raised him to fame and fortune was his capacity
（unrivalled among his brethren） for the discovery of remote disease。
'I am at your disposal；' he answered。 'Let me try if I can find out what
is the matter with you。'
He put his medical questions。 They were promptly and plainly
answered； and they led to no other conclusion than that the strange lady
