the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第38节
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warning of its appearance。 Silently and suddenly； the head had taken its
place above her。 No supernatural change had passed over the room； or
was perceptible in it now。 The dumbly…tortured figure in the chair； the
broad window opposite the foot of the bed； with the black night beyond it；
the candle burning on the table these； and all other objects in the room；
remained unaltered。 One object more； unutterably horrid； had been added
to the rest。 That was the only changeno more； no less。
By the yellow candlelight she saw the head distinctly； hovering in mid…
air above her。 She looked at it steadfastly； spell…bound by the terror that
held her。
The flesh of the face was gone。 The shrivelled skin was darkened in
hue； like the skin of an Egyptian mummyexcept at the neck。 There it was
of a lighter colour； there it showed spots and splashes of the hue of that
brown spot on the ceiling； which the child's fanciful terror had distorted
into the likeness of a spot of blood。 Thin remains of a discoloured
moustache and whiskers； hanging over the upper lip； and over the hollows
where the cheeks had once been； made the head just recognisable as the
head of a man。 Over all the features death and time had done their
obliterating work。 The eyelids were closed。 The hair on the skull；
discoloured like the hair on the face； had been burnt away in places。 The
bluish lips； parted in a fixed grin； showed the double row of teeth。 By slow
degrees； the hovering head （perfectly still when she first saw it） began to
descend towards Agnes as she lay beneath。 By slow degrees； that strange
doubly…blended odour； which the Commissioners had discovered in the
vaults of the old palace which had sickened Francis Westwick in the bed…
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chamber of the new hotelspread its fetid exhalations over the room。
Downward and downward the hideous apparition made its slow progress；
until it stopped close over Agnesstopped； and turned slowly； so that the
face of it confronted the upturned face of the woman in the chair。
There was a pause。 Then； a supernatural movement disturbed the
rigid repose of the dead face。
The closed eyelids opened slowly。 The eyes revealed themselves；
bright with the glassy film of deathand fixed their dreadful look on the
woman in the chair。
Agnes saw that look； saw the eyelids of the living woman open slowly
like the eyelids of the dead； saw her rise； as if in obedience to some silent
commandand saw no more。
Her next conscious impression was of the sunlight pouring in at the
window； of the friendly presence of Lady Montbarry at the bedside； and of
the children's wondering faces peeping in at the door。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER XXIII
'。。。You have some influence over Agnes。 Try what you can do；
Henry； to make her take a sensible view of the matter。 There is really
nothing to make a fuss about。 My wife's maid knocked at her door early
in the morning； with the customary cup of tea。 Getting no answer； she
went round to the dressing…roomfound the door on that side unlocked
and discovered Agnes on the bed in a fainting fit。 With my wife's help；
they brought her to herself again； and she told the extraordinary story
which I have just repeated to you。 You must have seen for yourself that she
has been over…fatigued； poor thing； by our long railway journeys： her
nerves are out of order and she is just the person to be easily terrified by
a dream。 She obstinately refuses； however； to accept this rational view。
Don't suppose that I have been severe with her！ All that a man can do to
humour her I have done。 I have written to the Countess （in her assumed
name） offering to restore the room to her。 She writes back； positively
declining to return to it。 I have accordingly arranged （so as not to have the
thing known in the hotel） to occupy the room for one or two nights； and to
leave Agnes to recover her spirits under my wife's care。 Is there anything
more that I can do？ Whatever questions Agnes has asked of me I have
answered to the best of my ability； she knows all that you told me about
Francis and the Countess last night。 But try as I may I can't quiet her mind。
I have given up the attempt in despair； and left her in the drawing…room。
Go； like a good fellow； and try what you can do to compose her。'
In those words； Lord Montbarry stated the case to his brother from the
rational point of view。 Henry made no remark； he went straight to the
drawing…room。
He found Agnes walking rapidly backwards and forwards； flushed and
excited。 'If you come here to say what your brother has been saying to
me；' she broke out； before he could speak； 'spare yourself the trouble。 I
don't want common sense I want a true friend who will believe in me。'
'I am that friend； Agnes；' Henry answered quietly； 'and you know it。'
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'You really believe that I am not deluded by a dream？'
I know that you are not deludedin one particular； at least。'
'In what particular？'
'In what you have said of the Countess。 It is perfectly true'
Agnes stopped him there。 'Why do I only hear this morning that the
Countess and Mrs。 James are one and the same person？' she asked
distrustfully。 'Why was I not told of it last night？'
'You forget that you had accepted the exchange of rooms before I
reached Venice；' Henry replied。 'I felt strongly tempted to tell you； even
thenbut your sleeping arrangements for the night were all made； I should
only have inconvenienced and alarmed you。 I waited till the morning； after
hearing from my brother that you had yourself seen to your security from
any intrusion。 How that intrusion was accomplished it is impossible to say。
I can only declare that the Countess's presence by your bedside last night
was no dream of yours。 On her own authority I can testify that it was a
reality。'
'On her own authority？' Agnes repeated eagerly。 'Have you seen
her this morning？'
'I have seen her not ten minutes since。'
'What was she doing？'
She was busily engaged in writing。 I could not even get her to look
at me until I thought of mentioning your name。'
'She remembered me； of course？'
'She remembered you with some difficulty。 Finding that she wouldn't
answer me on any other terms； I questioned her as if I had come direct
from you。 Then she spoke。 She not only admitted that she had the same
superstitious motive for placing you in that room which she had
acknowledged to Francisshe even owned that she had been by your
bedside； watching through the night； 〃to see what you saw；〃 as she
expressed it。 Hearing this； I tried to persuade her to tell me how she got
into the room。 Unluckily； her manuscript on the table caught her eye； she
returned to her writing。 〃The Baron wants money；〃 she said； 〃I must get
on with my play。〃 What she saw or dreamed while she was in your room
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last night； it is at present impossible to discover。 But judging by my
brother's account of her； as well as by what I remember of her myself；
some recent influence has been at work which has produced a marked
change in this wretched woman for the worse。 Her mind （since last night；
perhaps） is partially deranged。 One proof of it is that she spoke to me of
the Baron as if he were still a living man。 When Francis saw her； she
declared that the Baron was dead； which is the truth。 The United States
Consul at Milan showed us the announcement
