the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第33节
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revealed itself； she stopped him as he turned towards the Riva degli
Schiavoni。 'I have something to ask you。 I want to wait and think。'
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She recovered her lost idea； after a long pause。
'Are you going to sleep in the room to…night？' she asked。
He told her that another traveller was in possession of the room that
night。 'But the manager has reserved it for me to…morrow；' he added； 'if I
wish to have it。'
'No；' she said。 'You must give it up。'
'To whom？'
'To me！'
He started。 'After what I have told you； do you really wish to sleep in
that room to…morrow night？'
'I must sleep in it。'
'Are you not afraid？'
'I am horribly afraid。'
'So I should have thought； after what I have observed in you to…night。
Why should you take the room？ you are not obliged to occupy it； unless
you like。'
'I was not obliged to go to Venice； when I left America；' she answered。
'And yet I came here。 I must take the room； and keep the room； until'
She broke off at those words。 'Never mind the rest；' she said。 'It doesn't
interest you。'
It was useless to dispute with her。 Francis changed the subject。 'We
can do nothing to…night；' he said。 'I will call on you to…morrow morning；
and hear what you think of it then。'
They moved on again to the hotel。 As they approached the door；
Francis asked if she was staying in Venice under her own name。
She shook her head。 'As your brother's widow； I am known here。 As
Countess Narona； I am known here。 I want to be unknown； this time； to
strangers in Venice； I am travelling under a common English name。' She
hesitated； and stood still。 'What has come to me？' she muttered to herself。
'Some things I remember； and some I forget。 I forgot Danieli'sand now I
forget my English name。' She drew him hurriedly into the hall of the hotel；
on the wall of which hung a list of visitors' names。 Running her finger
slowly down the list； she pointed to the English name that she had
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assumed：'Mrs。 James。'
'Remember that when you call to…morrow；' she said。 'My head is
heavy。 Good night。'
Francis went back to his own hotel； wondering what the events of the
next day would bring forth。 A new turn in his affairs had taken place in
his absence。 As he crossed the hall； he was requested by one of the
servants to walk into the private office。 The manager was waiting there
with a gravely pre…occupied manner； as if he had something serious to say。
He regretted to hear that Mr。 Francis Westwick had； like other members of
the family； discovered serious sources of discomfort in the new hotel。 He
had been informed in strict confidence of Mr。 Westwick's extraordinary
objection to the atmosphere of the bedroom upstairs。 Without presuming
to discuss the matter； he must beg to be excused from reserving the room
for Mr。 Westwick after what had happened。
Francis answered sharply； a little ruffled by the tone in which the
manager had spoken to him。 'I might； very possibly； have declined to
sleep in the room； if you had reserved it；' he said。 'Do you wish me to
leave the hotel？'
The manager saw the error that he had committed； and hastened to
repair it。 'Certainly not； sir！ We will do our best to make you
comfortable while you stay with us。 I beg your pardon； if I have said
anything to offend you。 The reputation of an establishment like this is a
matter of very serious importance。 May I hope that you will do us the
great favour to say nothing about what has happened upstairs？ The two
French gentlemen have kindly promised to keep it a secret。'
This apology left Francis no polite alternative but to grant the
manager's request。 'There is an end to the Countess's wild scheme；' he
thought to himself； as he retired for the night。 'So much the better for the
Countess！'
He rose late the next morning。 Inquiring for his Parisian friends； he
was informed that both the French gentlemen had left for Milan。 As he
crossed the hall； on his way to the restaurant； he noticed the head porter
chalking the numbers of the rooms on some articles of luggage which
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were waiting to go upstairs。 One trunk attracted his attention by the
extraordinary number of old travelling labels left on it。 The porter was
marking it at the momentand the number was； '13 A。' Francis instantly
looked at the card fastened on the lid。 It bore the common English name；
'Mrs。 James'！ He at once inquired about the lady。 She had arrived early
that morning； and she was then in the Reading Room。 Looking into the
room； he discovered a lady in it alone。 Advancing a little nearer； he found
himself face to face with the Countess。
She was seated in a dark corner； with her head down and her arms
crossed over her bosom。 'Yes；' she said； in a tone of weary impatience；
before Francis could speak to her。 'I thought it best not to wait for youI
determined to get here before anybody else could take the room。'
'Have you taken it for long？' Francis asked。
'You told me Miss Lockwood would be here in a week's time。 I have
taken it for a week。'
'What has Miss Lockwood to do with it？'
'She has everything to do with itshe must sleep in the room。 I shall
give the room up to her when she comes here。'
Francis began to understand the superstitious purpose that she had in
view。 'Are you （an educated woman） really of the same opinion as my
sister's maid！' he exclaimed。 'Assuming your absurd superstition to be a
serious thing； you are taking the wrong means to prove it true。 If I and
my brother and sister have seen nothing； how should Agnes Lockwood
discover what was not revealed to us？ She is only distantly related to the
Montbarrysshe is only our cousin。'
'She was nearer to the heart of the Montbarry who is dead than any of
you；' the Countess answered sternly。 'To the last day of his life； my
miserable husband repented his desertion of her。 She will see what none of
you have seenshe shall have the room。'
Francis listened； utterly at a loss to account for the motives that
animated her。 'I don't see what interest you have in trying this
extraordinary experiment；' he said。
'It is my interest not to try it！ It is my interest to fly from Venice； and
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never set eyes on Agnes Lockwood or any of your family again！'
'What prevents you from doing that？'
She started to her feet and looked at him wildly。 'I know no more
what prevents me than you do！' she burst out。 'Some will that is stronger
than mine drives me on to my destruction； in spite of my own self！' She
suddenly sat down again； and waved her hand for him to go。 'Leave me；'
she said。 'Leave me to my thoughts。'
Francis left her； firmly persuaded by this time that she was out of her
senses。 For the rest of the day； he saw nothing of her。 The night； so far as
he knew； passed quietly。 The next morning he breakfasted early；
determining to wait in the restaurant for the appearance of the Countess。
She came in and ordered her breakfast quietly； looking dull and worn and
self…absorbed； as she had looked when he last saw her。 He hastened to
her table； and asked if anything had happened in the night。
'Nothing；' she answered。
'You have rested as well as usual？'
'Quite as well as usual。 Have you had any letters this morning？ Have
you heard when she is coming？'
