the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第22节
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happy in her new sphere； and she spent her first half…year's dividend from
the Venice Hotel Company； with characteristic prodigality； in presents for
the children。
Early in the year； also； the Directors of the life insurance offices
submitted to circumstances； and paid the ten thousand pounds。
Immediately afterwards； the widow of the first Lord Montbarry （otherwise；
the dowager Lady Montbarry） left England； with Baron Rivar； for the
United States。 The Baron's object was announced； in the scientific
columns of the newspapers； to be investigation into the present state of
experimental chemistry in the great American republic。 His sister informed
inquiring friends that she accompanied him； in the hope of finding
consolation in change of scene after the bereavement that had fallen on her。
Hearing this news from Henry Westwick （then paying a visit at his
brother's house）； Agnes was conscious of a certain sense of relief。 'With
the Atlantic between us；' she said； 'surely I have done with that terrible
woman now！'
Barely a week passed after those words had been spoken； before an
event happened which reminded Agnes of 'the terrible woman' once more。
On that day； Henry's engagements had obliged him to return to London。
He had ventured； on the morning of his departure； to press his suit once
more on Agnes； and the children； as he had anticipated； proved to be
innocent obstacles in the way of his success。 On the other hand； he had
privately secured a firm ally in his sister…in…law。 'Have a little patience；' the
new Lady Montbarry had said； 'and leave me to turn the influence of the
children in the right direction。 If they can persuade her to listen to you
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they shall！'
The two ladies had accompanied Henry； and some other guests who
went away at the same time； to the railway station； and had just driven
back to the house； when the servant announced that 'a person of the name
of Rolland was waiting to see her ladyship。'
'Is it a woman？'
'Yes； my lady。'
Young Lady Montbarry turned to Agnes。
'This is the very person；' she said； 'whom your lawyer thought likely to
help him； when he was trying to trace the lost courier。'
'You don't mean the English maid who was with Lady Montbarry at
Venice？'
'My dear！ don't speak of Montbarry's horrid widow by the name which
is my name now。 Stephen and I have arranged to call her by her foreign
title； before she was married。 I am 〃Lady Montbarry；〃 and she is 〃the
Countess。〃 In that way there will be no confusion。 Yes； Mrs。 Rolland
was in my service before she became the Countess's maid。 She was a
perfectly trustworthy person； with one defect that obliged me to send her
awaya sullen temper which led to perpetual complaints of her in the
servants' hall。 Would you like to see her？'
Agnes accepted the proposal； in the faint hope of getting some
information for the courier's wife。 The complete defeat of every attempt
to trace the lost man had been accepted as final by Mrs。 Ferrari。 She had
deliberately arrayed herself in widow's mourning； and was earning her
livelihood in an employment which the unwearied kindness of Agnes had
procured for her in London。 The last chance of penetrating the mystery
of Ferrari's disappearance seemed to rest now on what Ferrari's former
fellow…servant might be able to tell。 With highly…wrought expectations；
Agnes followed her friend into the room in which Mrs。 Rolland was
waiting。
A tall bony woman； in the autumn of life； with sunken eyes and iron…
grey hair； rose stiffly from her chair； and saluted the ladies with stern
submission as they opened the door。 A person of unblemished character；
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evidentlybut not without visible drawbacks。 Big bushy eyebrows； an
awfully deep and solemn voice； a harsh unbending manner； a complete
absence in her figure of the undulating lines characteristic of the sex；
presented Virtue in this excellent person under its least alluring aspect。
Strangers； on a first introduction to her； were accustomed to wonder why
she was not a man。
'Are you pretty well； Mrs。 Rolland？'
'I am as well as I can expect to be； my lady； at my time of life。'
'Is there anything I can do for you？'
'Your ladyship can do me a great favour； if you will please speak to my
character while I was in your service。 I am offered a place； to wait on an
invalid lady who has lately come to live in this neighbourhood。'
'Ah； yesI have heard of her。 A Mrs。 Carbury； with a very pretty
niece I am told。 But； Mrs。 Rolland； you left my service some time ago。
Mrs。 Carbury will surely expect you to refer to the last mistress by whom
you were employed。'
A flash of virtuous indignation irradiated Mrs。 Rolland's sunken eyes。
She coughed before she answered； as if her 'last mistress' stuck in her
throat。
'I have explained to Mrs。 Carbury； my lady； that the person I last
served I really cannot give her her title in your ladyship's presence！ has
left England for America。 Mrs。 Carbury knows that I quitted the person
of my own free will； and knows why； and approves of my conduct so far。
A word from your ladyship will be amply sufficient to get me the
situation。'
'Very well； Mrs。 Rolland； I have no objection to be your reference；
under the circumstances。 Mrs。 Carbury will find me at home to…morrow
until two o'clock。'
'Mrs。 Carbury is not well enough to leave the house； my lady。 Her
niece； Miss Haldane； will call and make the inquiries； if your ladyship has
no objection。'
'I have not the least objection。 The pretty niece carries her own
welcome with her。 Wait a minute； Mrs。 Rolland。 This lady is Miss
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Lockwoodmy husband's cousin； and my friend。 She is anxious to speak
to you about the courier who was in the late Lord Montbarry's service at
Venice。'
Mrs。 Rolland's bushy eyebrows frowned in stern disapproval of the
new topic of conversation。 'I regret to hear it； my lady；' was all she said。
'Perhaps you have not been informed of what happened after you left
Venice？' Agnes ventured to add。 'Ferrari left the palace secretly； and he
has never been heard of since。'
Mrs。 Rolland mysteriously closed her eyesas if to exclude some
vision of the lost courier which was of a nature to disturb a respectable
woman。 'Nothing that Mr。 Ferrari could do would surprise me；' she replied
in her deepest bass tones。
'You speak rather harshly of him；' said Agnes。
Mrs。 Rolland suddenly opened her eyes again。 'I speak harshly of
nobody without reason；' she said。 'Mr。 Ferrari behaved to me； Miss
Lockwood； as no man living has ever behavedbefore or since。'
'What did he do？'
Mrs。 Rolland answered； with a stony stare of horror：
'He took liberties with me。'
Young Lady Montbarry suddenly turned aside； and put her
handkerchief over her mouth in convulsions of suppressed laughter。
Mrs。 Rolland went on； with a grim enjoyment of the bewilderment
which her reply had produced in Agnes： 'And when I insisted on an
apology； Miss； he had the audacity to say that the life at the palace was
dull； and he didn't know how else to amuse himself！'
'I am afraid I have hardly made myself understood；' said Agnes。 'I am
not speaking to you out of any interest in Ferrari。 Are you aware that he is
married？'
