the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第17节
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contrast between her ghastly complexion and her steely glittering black
eyes was more startling than ever。 Robed in dismal black； relieved only by
the brilliant whiteness of her widow's capreclining in a panther…like
suppleness of attitude on a little green sofashe looked at the stranger who
had intruded on her； with a moment's languid curiosity； then dropped her
eyes again to the hand…screen which she held between her face and the fire。
'I don't know you；' she said。 'What do you want with me？'
Mrs。 Ferrari tried to answer。 Her first burst of courage had already
worn itself out。 The bold words that she had determined to speak were
living words still in her mind； but they died on her lips。
There was a moment of silence。 Lady Montbarry looked round again
at the speechless stranger。 'Are you deaf？' she asked。 There was another
pause。 Lady Montbarry quietly looked back again at the screen； and put
another question。 'Do you want money？'
'Money！' That one word roused the sinking spirit of the courier's wife。
She recovered her courage； she found her voice。 'Look at me； my lady； if
you please；' she said； with a sudden outbreak of audacity。
Lady Montbarry looked round for the third time。 The fatal words
passed Mrs。 Ferrari's lips。
'I come； my lady； to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent to
Ferrari's widow。'
Lady Montbarry's glittering black eyes rested with steady attention on
the woman who had addressed her in those terms。 Not the faintest
expression of confusion or alarm； not even a momentary flutter of interest
stirred the deadly stillness of her face。 She reposed as quietly； she held the
screen as composedly； as ever。 The test had been tried； and had utterly
failed。
There was another silence。 Lady Montbarry considered with herself。
The smile that came slowly and went away suddenlythe smile at once so
sad and so cruelshowed itself on her thin lips。 She lifted her screen； and
pointed with it to a seat at the farther end of the room。 'Be so good as to
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take that chair；' she said。
Helpless under her first bewildering sense of failurenot knowing
what to say or what to do nextMrs。 Ferrari mechanically obeyed。 Lady
Montbarry； rising on the sofa for the first time； watched her with
undisguised scrutiny as she crossed the roomthen sank back into a
reclining position once more。 'No；' she said to herself； 'the woman walks
steadily； she is not intoxicatedthe only other possibility is that she may
be mad。'
She had spoken loud enough to be heard。 Stung by the insult； Mrs。
Ferrari instantly answered her： 'I am no more drunk or mad than you
are！'
'No？' said Lady Montbarry。 'Then you are only insolent？ The
ignorant English mind （I have observed） is apt to be insolent in the
exercise of unrestrained English liberty。 This is very noticeable to us
foreigners among you people in the streets。 Of course I can't be insolent
to you； in return。 I hardly know what to say to you。 My maid was
imprudent in admitting you so easily to my room。 I suppose your
respectable appearance misled her。 I wonder who you are？ You
mentioned the name of a courier who left us very strangely。 Was he
married by any chance？ Are you his wife？ And do you know where he
is？'
Mrs。 Ferrari's indignation burst its way through all restraints。 She
advanced to the sofa； she feared nothing； in the fervour and rage of her
reply。
'I am his widowand you know it； you wicked woman！ Ah！ it was an
evil hour when Miss Lockwood recommended my husband to be his
lordship's courier！'
Before she could add another word； Lady Montbarry sprang from the
sofa with the stealthy suddenness of a catseized her by both shoulders
and shook her with the strength and frenzy of a madwoman。 'You lie！
you lie！ you lie！' She dropped her hold at the third repetition of the
accusation； and threw up her hands wildly with a gesture of despair。 'Oh；
Jesu Maria！ is it possible？' she cried。 'Can the courier have come to me
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through that woman？' She turned like lightning on Mrs。 Ferrari； and
stopped her as she was escaping from the room。 'Stay here； you foolstay
here； and answer me！ If you cry out； as sure as the heavens are above
you； I'll strangle you with my own hands。 Sit down againand fear
nothing。 Wretch！ It is I who am frightened frightened out of my
senses。 Confess that you lied； when you used Miss Lockwood's name
just now！ No！ I don't believe you on your oath； I will believe nobody
but Miss Lockwood herself。 Where does she live？ Tell me that； you
noxious stinging little insectand you may go。' Terrified as she was； Mrs。
Ferrari hesitated。 Lady Montbarry lifted her hands threateningly； with
the long； lean； yellow…white fingers outspread and crooked at the tips。
Mrs。 Ferrari shrank at the sight of them； and gave the address。 Lady
Montbarry pointed contemptuously to the doorthen changed her mind。
'No！ not yet！ you will tell Miss Lockwood what has happened； and she
may refuse to see me。 I will go there at once； and you shall go with me。
As far as the house not inside of it。 Sit down again。 I am going to
ring for my maid。 Turn your back to the dooryour cowardly face is not fit
to be seen！'
She rang the bell。 The maid appeared。
'My cloak and bonnetinstantly！'
The maid produced the cloak and bonnet from the bedroom。
'A cab at the doorbefore I can count ten！'
The maid vanished。 Lady Montbarry surveyed herself in the glass；
and wheeled round again； with her cat…like suddenness； to Mrs。 Ferrari。
'I look more than half dead already； don't I？' she said with a grim
outburst of irony。 'Give me your arm。'
She took Mrs。 Ferrari's arm； and left the room。 'You have nothing to
fear； so long as you obey；' she whispered； on the way downstairs。 'You
leave me at Miss Lockwood's door； and never see me again。'
In the hall they were met by the landlady of the hotel。 Lady Montbarry
graciously presented her companion。 'My good friend Mrs。 Ferrari； I am so
glad to have seen her。' The landlady accompanied them to the door。 The
cab was waiting。 'Get in first； good Mrs。 Ferrari；' said her ladyship； 'and
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tell the man where to go。'
They were driven away。 Lady Montbarry's variable humour changed
again。 With a low groan of misery； she threw herself back in the cab。 Lost
in her own dark thoughts； as careless of the woman whom she had bent to
her iron will as if no such person sat by her side； she preserved a sinister
silence； until they reached the house where Miss Lockwood lodged。 In
an instant； she roused herself to action。 She opened the door of the cab；
and closed it again on Mrs。 Ferrari； before the driver could get off his box。
'Take that lady a mile farther on her way home！' she said； as she paid
the man his fare。 The next moment she had knocked at the house…door。
'Is Miss Lockwood at home？' 'Yes； ma'am。' She stepped over the
thresholdthe door closed on her。
'Which way； ma'am？' asked the driver of the cab。
Mrs。 Ferrari put her hand to her head； and tried to collect her thoughts。
Could she leave her friend and benefactress helpless at Lady Montbarry's
mercy？ She was still vainly endeavouring to decide on t
