the haunted hotel(ÄÖ¹íµÄÂùÝ)-µÚ32½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡114¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡115¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡HAUNTED¡¡HOTEL¡¡A¡¡Mystery¡¡of¡¡Modern¡¡Venice¡¡
am¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡presentiments¡¡which¡¡make¡¡this¡¡wicked¡¡life¡¡of¡¡mine¡¡one¡¡long¡¡
terror¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡doesn't¡¡matter£»¡¡just¡¡now£»¡¡what¡¡they¡¡are¡£¡¡Enough¡¡that¡¡they¡¡
absolutely¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡govern¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡methey¡¡¡¡¡¡drive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡land¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡sea¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡own¡¡
horrible¡¡¡¡¡¡will£»¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡torturing¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡moment£¡¡¡Why¡¡
don't¡¡I¡¡resist¡¡them£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ha£¡¡¡but¡¡I¡¡do¡¡resist¡¡them¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡trying¡¡£¨with¡¡the¡¡help¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡punch£©¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡resist¡¡them¡¡¡¡now¡£¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡intervals¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡cultivate¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡difficult¡¡
virtue¡¡of¡¡common¡¡sense¡£¡¡Sometimes£»¡¡sound¡¡sense¡¡makes¡¡a¡¡hopeful¡¡woman¡¡
of¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡one¡¡time£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡what¡¡seemed¡¡reality¡¡to¡¡me¡¡was¡¡
only¡¡¡¡¡¡mad¡¡¡¡¡¡delusion£»¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡allI¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡question¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡English¡¡
doctor£¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡times£»¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡sensible¡¡doubts¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡¡¡¡¡beset¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Never¡¡
mind¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dwelling¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡nowit¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡always¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ends¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡terrors¡¡¡¡and¡¡
superstitions¡¡¡¡¡¡taking¡¡¡¡¡¡possession¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡week's¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡
know¡¡whether¡¡Destiny¡¡does¡¡indeed¡¡decide¡¡my¡¡future¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡or¡¡whether¡¡I¡¡
decide¡¡it¡¡for¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡last¡¡case£»¡¡my¡¡resolution¡¡is¡¡to¡¡absorb¡¡this¡¡self¡¡¡
tormenting¡¡fancy¡¡of¡¡mine¡¡in¡¡the¡¡occupation¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡told¡¡you¡¡of¡¡already¡£¡¡
Do¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡understand¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡better¡¡¡¡¡¡now£¿¡¡¡¡And£»¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡business¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡
settled£»¡¡dear¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Westwick£»¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡¡hot¡¡room¡¡into¡¡the¡¡nice¡¡
cool¡¡air¡¡again£¿'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡rose¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cafe¡£¡¡¡¡Francis¡¡¡¡¡¡privately¡¡¡¡¡¡concluded¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
maraschino¡¡punch¡¡offered¡¡the¡¡only¡¡¡¡discoverable¡¡explanation¡¡of¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
Countess¡¡had¡¡said¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡115¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡116¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡HAUNTED¡¡HOTEL¡¡A¡¡Mystery¡¡of¡¡Modern¡¡Venice¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XX¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Shall¡¡I¡¡see¡¡you¡¡again£¿'¡¡she¡¡asked£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡held¡¡out¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡take¡¡
leave¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡understood¡¡between¡¡us£»¡¡I¡¡suppose£»¡¡about¡¡the¡¡play£¿'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Francis¡¡recalled¡¡his¡¡extraordinary¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡that¡¡evening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡re¡¡¡
numbered¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'My¡¡stay¡¡in¡¡Venice¡¡is¡¡uncertain£»'¡¡he¡¡replied¡£¡¡'If¡¡you¡¡have¡¡
anything¡¡more¡¡to¡¡say¡¡about¡¡this¡¡dramatic¡¡venture¡¡of¡¡yours£»¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡as¡¡
well¡¡to¡¡say¡¡it¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Have¡¡you¡¡decided¡¡on¡¡a¡¡subject¡¡already£¿¡¡I¡¡know¡¡the¡¡
public¡¡taste¡¡in¡¡England¡¡better¡¡than¡¡you¡¡doI¡¡might¡¡save¡¡you¡¡some¡¡waste¡¡
of¡¡time¡¡and¡¡trouble£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡have¡¡not¡¡chosen¡¡your¡¡subject¡¡wisely¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡¡¡don't¡¡¡¡care¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡subject¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡write¡¡¡¡about£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡write£»'¡¡¡¡she¡¡
answered¡¡carelessly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'If¡¡you¡¡have¡¡got¡¡a¡¡subject¡¡in¡¡your¡¡head£»¡¡give¡¡it¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡
I¡¡answer¡¡for¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dialogue¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'You¡¡¡¡¡¡answer¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡characters¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dialogue£»'¡¡¡¡¡¡Francis¡¡¡¡¡¡repeated¡£¡¡
'That's¡¡a¡¡bold¡¡way¡¡of¡¡speaking¡¡for¡¡a¡¡beginner£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡I¡¡should¡¡shake¡¡
your¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sublime¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡confidence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡yourself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡suggested¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ticklish¡¡
subject¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡which¡¡is¡¡known¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stage£¿¡¡What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡say£»¡¡Countess£»¡¡
to¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡lists¡¡with¡¡Shakespeare£»¡¡and¡¡trying¡¡a¡¡drama¡¡with¡¡a¡¡ghost¡¡in¡¡it£¿¡¡
A¡¡true¡¡story£»¡¡mind£¡¡¡founded¡¡on¡¡events¡¡in¡¡this¡¡very¡¡city¡¡in¡¡which¡¡you¡¡and¡¡I¡¡
are¡¡interested¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡caught¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡arm£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡drew¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡crowded¡¡
colonnade¡¡into¡¡the¡¡solitary¡¡middle¡¡space¡¡of¡¡the¡¡square¡£¡¡'Now¡¡tell¡¡me£¡'¡¡she¡¡
said¡¡eagerly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Here£»¡¡where¡¡nobody¡¡is¡¡near¡¡us¡£¡¡How¡¡am¡¡I¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡it£¿¡¡
How£¿¡¡how£¿'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Still¡¡¡¡¡¡holding¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡arm£»¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡shook¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡impatience¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡hear¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
coming¡¡¡¡¡¡disclosure¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡¡¡¡¡far£»¡¡¡¡¡¡amused¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡
her¡¡ignorant¡¡belief¡¡in¡¡herself£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡merely¡¡spoken¡¡in¡¡jest¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡
first¡¡time£»¡¡impressed¡¡by¡¡her¡¡irresistible¡¡earnestness£»¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡
what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡about¡¡from¡¡a¡¡more¡¡serious¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view¡£¡¡With¡¡her¡¡knowledge¡¡
of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old¡¡palace£»¡¡before¡¡its¡¡transformation¡¡into¡¡an¡¡
hotel£»¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡surely¡¡¡¡possible¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡suggest¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡explanation¡¡of¡¡
what¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡his¡¡brother£»¡¡and¡¡sister£»¡¡and¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Or£»¡¡failing¡¡to¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡116¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡117¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡HAUNTED¡¡HOTEL¡¡A¡¡Mystery¡¡of¡¡Modern¡¡Venice¡¡
do¡¡this£»¡¡she¡¡might¡¡accidentally¡¡reveal¡¡some¡¡event¡¡in¡¡her¡¡own¡¡experience¡¡
which£»¡¡¡¡¡¡acting¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡hint¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡competent¡¡¡¡¡¡dramatist£»¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡prove¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
making¡¡of¡¡a¡¡play¡£¡¡The¡¡prosperity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡theatre¡¡was¡¡his¡¡one¡¡serious¡¡object¡¡
in¡¡life¡£¡¡'I¡¡may¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡another¡¡¡¨Corsican¡¡Brothers£»¡¨'¡¡he¡¡thought¡£¡¡
'A¡¡new¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡that¡¡sort¡¡would¡¡be¡¡ten¡¡thousand¡¡pounds¡¡in¡¡my¡¡pocket£»¡¡at¡¡
least¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡these¡¡motives¡¡£¨worthy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡single¡hearted¡¡devotion¡¡to¡¡dramatic¡¡
business¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡Francis¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡successful¡¡¡¡¡¡manager£©¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡related£»¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡
further¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hesitation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡experience¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
experience¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡relatives¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡haunted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hotel¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡
described¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡outbreak¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡superstitious¡¡¡¡¡¡terror¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡escaped¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡
Norbury's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ignorant¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡maid¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Sad¡¡¡¡¡¡stuff£»¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡look¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡reasonably£»'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
remarked¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡'But¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡dramatic¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡notion¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ghostly¡¡
influence¡¡making¡¡itself¡¡felt¡¡by¡¡the¡¡relations¡¡in¡¡succession£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡one¡¡after¡¡
another¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡roomuntil¡¡the¡¡one¡¡chosen¡¡relative¡¡comes¡¡who¡¡will¡¡
see¡¡the¡¡Unearthly¡¡Creature£»¡¡and¡¡know¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡truth¡£¡¡Material¡¡for¡¡a¡¡play£»¡¡
Countessfirst¡rate¡¡material¡¡for¡¡a¡¡play£¡'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡paused¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡neither¡¡¡¡¡¡moved¡¡¡¡¡¡nor¡¡¡¡¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡stooped¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
looked¡¡closer¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡impression¡¡had¡¡he¡¡produced£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡impression¡¡which¡¡his¡¡
utmost¡¡ingenuity¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡anticipate¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡by¡¡his¡¡side¡¡just¡¡as¡¡
she¡¡had¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡Agnes¡¡when¡¡her¡¡question¡¡about¡¡Ferrari¡¡was¡¡plainly¡¡
answered¡¡at¡¡lastlike¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡stone¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡vacant¡¡and¡¡
rigid£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡life¡¡in¡¡her¡¡face¡¡had¡¡faded¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Francis¡¡took¡¡her¡¡by¡¡the¡¡
hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡as¡¡cold¡¡as¡¡the¡¡pavement¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡standing¡¡on¡£¡¡
He¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡if¡¡she¡¡was¡¡ill¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Not¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡muscle¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡moved¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡spoken¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
dead¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Surely£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡foolish¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡take¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡
telling¡¡you¡¡seriously£¿'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡lips¡¡¡¡¡¡moved¡¡¡¡¡¡slowly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed£»¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡making¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡effort¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
speak¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Louder£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡can't¡¡hear¡¡you¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡117¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡118¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡HAUNTED¡¡HOTEL¡¡A¡¡Mystery¡¡of¡¡Modern¡¡Venice¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡struggled¡¡to¡¡recover¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡faint¡¡light¡¡began¡¡to¡¡
soften¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡¡¡¡¡cold¡¡stare¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡so¡¡
that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡her¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡never¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡world£»'¡¡she¡¡murmured£»¡¡in¡¡low¡¡dull¡¡tones£»¡¡
like¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡talking¡¡in¡¡her¡¡sleep¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡mind¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡day¡¡of¡¡her¡¡last¡¡memorable¡¡interview¡¡
with¡¡Agnes£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡slowly¡¡recalling¡¡the¡¡confession¡¡that¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡her£»¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡warning¡¡¡¡¡¡words¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡spoken¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡past¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Necessarily¡¡
incapable¡¡of¡¡understanding¡¡this£»¡¡Francis¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡in¡¡perplexity¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡
went¡¡on¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡dull¡¡vacant¡¡tone£»¡¡steadily¡¡following¡¡out¡¡her¡¡own¡¡train¡¡
of¡¡thought£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡heedless¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡wandering¡¡mind¡¡far¡¡
away¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡said¡¡some¡¡trifling¡¡event¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡us¡¡together¡¡the¡¡next¡¡time¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
wrong¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡No¡¡¡¡¡¡trifling¡¡¡¡¡¡event¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡bring¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
person¡¡who¡¡told¡¡her¡¡what¡¡had¡¡become¡¡of¡¡Ferrari£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡forced¡¡me¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡
Shall¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡some¡¡other¡¡influence¡¡than¡¡hers£¿¡¡Will¡¡he¡¡force¡¡me¡¡to¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡
she¡¡sees¡¡him£»¡¡shall¡¡I¡¡see¡¡him¡¡too£¿'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡head¡¡sank¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡her¡¡heavy¡¡eyelids¡¡dropped¡¡slowly£»¡¡she¡¡heaved¡¡a¡¡
long¡¡low¡¡weary¡¡sigh¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Francis¡¡put¡¡her¡¡arm¡¡in¡¡his£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡
rouse¡¡her¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Come£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Countess£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡weary¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡wrought¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
enough¡¡talking¡¡to¡night¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡see¡¡you¡¡safe¡¡back¡¡to¡¡your¡¡hotel¡£¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡far¡¡
from¡¡here£¿'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡started¡¡when¡¡he¡¡moved£»¡¡and¡¡obliged¡¡her¡¡to¡¡move¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡
had¡¡suddenly¡¡awakened¡¡her¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡sleep¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Not¡¡far£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡¡faintly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'The¡¡old¡¡hotel¡¡on¡¡the¡¡quay¡£¡¡My¡¡mind's¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
strange¡¡state£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡forgotten¡¡the¡¡name¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Danieli's£¿'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Yes£¡'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡led¡¡her¡¡on¡¡slowly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡accompanied¡¡him¡¡in¡¡silence¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡
end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Piazzetta¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡full¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moonlit¡¡Lagoon¡¡
revealed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡itself£»¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡stopped¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡towards¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Riva¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡degli¡¡
Schiavo