the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第12节
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The reply came in a second telegram。 It announced that Lord Montbarry
was in a state of insensibility； and that； in his brief intervals of
consciousness； he recognised nobody。 My brother was advised to wait in
London for later information。 The third telegram is now in your hands。
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That is all I know； up to the present time。'
Happening to look at the courier's wife； Mr。 Troy was struck by the
expression of blank fear which showed itself in the woman's face。
'Mrs。 Ferrari；' he said； 'have you heard what Mr。 Westwick has just told
me？'
'Every word of it； sir。'
'Have you any questions to ask？'
'No； sir。'
'You seem to be alarmed；' the lawyer persisted。 'Is it still about your
husband？'
'I shall never see my husband again； sir。 I have thought so all along；
as you know。 I feel sure of it now。'
'Sure of it； after what you have just heard？'
'Yes； sir。'
'Can you tell me why？'
'No； sir。 It's a feeling I have。 I can't tell why。'
'Oh； a feeling？' Mr。 Troy repeated； in a tone of compassionate
contempt。 'When it comes to feelings； my good soul！' He left the
sentence unfinished； and rose to take his leave of Mr。 Westwick。 The
truth is； he began to feel puzzled himself； and he did not choose to let Mrs。
Ferrari see it。 'Accept the expression of my sympathy； sir；' he said to Mr。
Westwick politely。 'I wish you good evening。'
Henry turned to Mrs。 Ferrari as the lawyer closed the door。 'I have
heard of your trouble； Emily； from Miss Lockwood。 Is there anything I
can do to help you？'
'Nothing； sir； thank you。 Perhaps； I had better go home after what has
happened？ I will call to…morrow； and see if I can be of any use to Miss
Agnes。 I am very sorry for her。' She stole away； with her formal
curtsey； her noiseless step； and her obstinate resolution to take the
gloomiest view of her husband's case。
Henry Westwick looked round him in the solitude of the little drawing…
room。 There was nothing to keep him in the house； and yet he lingered in
it。 It was something to be even near Agnesto see the things belonging to
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her that were scattered about the room。 There； in the corner； was her
chair； with her embroidery on the work…table by its side。 On the little easel
near the window was her last drawing； not quite finished yet。 The book
she had been reading lay on the sofa； with her tiny pencil…case in it to
mark the place at which she had left off。 One after another； he looked at
the objects that reminded him of the woman whom he lovedtook them up
tenderly and laid them down again with a sigh。 Ah； how far； how
unattainably far from him； she was still！ 'She will never forget
Montbarry；' he thought to himself as he took up his hat to go。 'Not one of
us feels his death as she feels it。 Miserable； miserable wretchhow she
loved him！'
In the street； as Henry closed the house…door； he was stopped by a
passing acquaintancea wearisome inquisitive man doubly unwelcome
to him； at that moment。 'Sad news； Westwick； this about your brother。
Rather an unexpected death； wasn't it？ We never heard at the club that
Montbarry's lungs were weak。 What will the insurance offices do？'
Henry started； he had never thought of his brother's life insurance。
What could the offices do but pay？ A death by bronchitis； certified by
two physicians； was surely the least disputable of all deaths。 'I wish you
hadn't put that question into my head！' he broke out irritably。 'Ah！' said his
friend； 'you think the widow will get the money？ So do I！ so do I！'
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CHAPTER VII
Some days later； the insurance offices （two in number） received the
formal announcement of Lord Montbarry's death； from her ladyship's
London solicitors。 The sum insured in each office was five thousand
poundson which one year's premium only had been paid。 In the face of
such a pecuniary emergency as this； the Directors thought it desirable to
consider their position。 The medical advisers of the two offices； who had
recommended the insurance of Lord Montbarry's life； were called into
council over their own reports。 The result excited some interest among
persons connected with the business of life insurance。 Without absolutely
declining to pay the money； the two offices （acting in concert） decided on
sending a commission of inquiry to Venice； 'for the purpose of obtaining
further information。'
Mr。 Troy received the earliest intelligence of what was going on。 He
wrote at once to communicate his news to Agnes； adding； what he
considered to be a valuable hint； in these words：
'You are intimately acquainted； I know； with Lady Barville； the late
Lord Montbarry's eldest sister。 The solicitors employed by her husband
are also the solicitors to one of the two insurance offices。 There may
possibly be something in the report of the commission of inquiry touching
on Ferrari's disappearance。 Ordinary persons would not be permitted； of
course； to see such a document。 But a sister of the late lord is so near a
relative as to be an exception to general rules。 If Sir Theodore Barville
puts it on that footing； the lawyers； even if they do not allow his wife to
look at the report； will at least answer any discreet questions she may ask
referring to it。 Let me hear what you think of this suggestion； at your
earliest convenience。'
The reply was received by return of post。 Agnes declined to avail
herself of Mr。 Troy's proposal。
'My interference； innocent as it was；' she wrote； 'has already been
productive of such deplorable results； that I cannot and dare not stir any
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further in the case of Ferrari。 If I had not consented to let that unfortunate
man refer to me by name； the late Lord Montbarry would never have
engaged him； and his wife would have been spared the misery and
suspense from which she is suffering now。 I would not even look at the
report to which you allude if it was placed in my handsI have heard more
than enough already of that hideous life in the palace at Venice。 If Mrs。
Ferrari chooses to address herself to Lady Barville （with your assistance）；
that is of course quite another thing。 But； even in this case； I must make it
a positive condition that my name shall not be mentioned。 Forgive me；
dear Mr。 Troy！ I am very unhappy； and very unreasonablebut I am only a
woman； and you must not expect too much from me。'
Foiled in this direction； the lawyer next advised making the attempt to
discover the present address of Lady Montbarry's English maid。 This
excellent suggestion had one drawback： it could only be carried out by
spending moneyand there was no money to spend。 Mrs。 Ferrari shrank
from the bare idea of making any use of the thousand…pound note。 It had
been deposited in the safe keeping of a bank。 If it was even mentioned in
her hearing； she shuddered and referred to it； with melodramatic fervour；
as 'my husband's blood…money！'
So； under stress of circumstances； the attempt to solve the mystery of
Ferrari's disappearance was suspended for a while。
It was the last month of the year 1860。 The commission of inquiry
was already at work； having begun its investigations on December 6。 On
the 10th； the term for which the late Lord Montbarr
