the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第39节
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declared that the Baron was dead； which is the truth。 The United States
Consul at Milan showed us the announcement of the death in an American
newspaper。 So far as I can see； such sense as she still possesses seems to
be entirely absorbed in one absurd ideathe idea of writing a play for
Francis to bring out at his theatre。 He admits that he encouraged her to
hope she might get money in this way。 I think he did wrong。 Don't you
agree with me？'
Without heeding the question； Agnes rose abruptly from her chair。
'Do me one more kindness； Henry；' she said。 'Take me to the
Countess at once。'
Henry hesitated。 'Are you composed enough to see her； after the
shock that you have suffered？' he asked。
She trembled； the flush on her face died away； and left it deadly pale。
But she held to her resolution。 'You have heard of what I saw last night？'
she said faintly。
'Don't speak of it！' Henry interposed。 'Don't uselessly agitate
yourself。'
'I must speak！ My mind is full of horrid questions about it。 I know I
can't identify itand yet I ask myself over and over again； in whose
likeness did it appear？ Was it in the likeness of Ferrari？ or was it？' she
stopped； shuddering。 'The Countess knows； I must see the Countess！' she
resumed vehemently。 'Whether my courage fails me or not； I must make
the attempt。 Take me to her before I have time to feel afraid of it！'
Henry looked at her anxiously。 'If you are really sure of your own
resolution；' he said； 'I agree with youthe sooner you see her the better。
You remember how strangely she talked of your influence over her； when
she forced her way into your room in London？'
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'I remember it perfectly。 Why do you ask？'
'For this reason。 In the present state of her mind； I doubt if she will
be much longer capable of realizing her wild idea of you as the avenging
angel who is to bring her to a reckoning for her evil deeds。 It may be well
to try what your influence can do while she is still capable of feeling it。'
He waited to hear what Agnes would say。 She took his arm and led
him in silence to the door。
They ascended to the second floor； and； after knocking； entered the
Countess's room。
She was still busily engaged in writing。 When she looked up from
the paper； and saw Agnes； a vacant expression of doubt was the only
expression in her wild black eyes。 After a few moments； the lost
remembrances and associations appeared to return slowly to her mind。 The
pen dropped from her hand。 Haggard and trembling； she looked closer at
Agnes； and recognised her at last。 'Has the time come already？' she said
in low awe…struck tones。 'Give me a little longer respite； I haven't done
my writing yet！'
She dropped on her knees； and held out her clasped hands entreatingly。
Agnes was far from having recovered； after the shock that she had suffered
in the night： her nerves were far from being equal to the strain that was
now laid on them。 She was so startled by the change in the Countess；
that she was at a loss what to say or to do next。 Henry was obliged to
speak to her。 'Put your questions while you have the chance；' he said；
lowering his voice。 'See！ the vacant look is coming over her face again。'
Agnes tried to rally her courage。 'You were in my room last night'
she began。 Before she could add a word more； the Countess lifted
her hands； and wrung them above her head with a low moan of horror。
Agnes shrank back； and turned as if to leave the room。 Henry stopped
her； and whispered to her to try again。 She obeyed him after an effort。 'I
slept last night in the room that you gave up to me；' she resumed。 'I saw'
The Countess suddenly rose to her feet。 'No more of that；' she cried。
'Oh； Jesu Maria！ do you think I want to be told what you saw？ Do you
think I don't know what it means for you and for me？ Decide for yourself；
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Miss。 Examine your own mind。 Are you well assured that the day of
reckoning has come at last？ Are you ready to follow me back； through
the crimes of the past； to the secrets of the dead？'
She returned again to the writing…table； without waiting to be answered。
Her eyes flashed； she looked like her old self once more as she spoke。 It
was only for a moment。 The old ardour and impetuosity were nearly
worn out。 Her head sank； she sighed heavily as she unlocked a desk
which stood on the table。 Opening a drawer in the desk； she took out a
leaf of vellum； covered with faded writing。 Some ragged ends of silken
thread were still attached to the leaf； as if it had been torn out of a book。
'Can you read Italian？' she asked； handing the leaf to Agnes。
Agnes answered silently by an inclination of her head。
'The leaf；' the Countess proceeded； 'once belonged to a book in the old
library of the palace； while this building was still a palace。 By whom it
was torn out you have no need to know。 For what purpose it was torn out
you may discover for yourself； if you will。 Read it firstat the fifth line
from the top of the page。'
Agnes felt the serious necessity of composing herself。 'Give me a
chair；' she said to Henry； 'and I will do my best。' He placed himself behind
her chair so that he could look over her shoulder and help her to
understand the writing on the leaf。 Rendered into English； it ran as
follows：
I have now completed my literary survey of the first floor of the
palace。 At the desire of my noble and gracious patron； the lord of this
glorious edifice； I next ascend to the second floor； and continue my
catalogue or description of the pictures； decorations； and other treasures of
art therein contained。 Let me begin with the corner room at the western
extremity of the palace； called the Room of the Caryatides； from the
statues which support the mantel…piece。 This work is of comparatively
recent execution： it dates from the eighteenth century only； and reveals the
corrupt taste of the period in every part of it。 Still； there is a certain
interest which attaches to the mantel…piece： it conceals a cleverly
constructed hiding…place； between the floor of the room and the ceiling of
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the room beneath； which was made during the last evil days of the
Inquisition in Venice； and which is reported to have saved an ancestor of
my gracious lord pursued by that terrible tribunal。 The machinery of this
curious place of concealment has been kept in good order by the present
lord； as a species of curiosity。 He condescended to show me the method of
working it。 Approaching the two Caryatides； rest your hand on the
forehead （midway between the eyebrows） of the figure which is on your
left as you stand opposite to the fireplace； then press the head inwards as if
you were pushing it against the wall behind。 By doing this； you set in
motion the hidden machinery in the wall which turns the hearthstone on a
pivot； and discloses the hollow place below。 There is room enough in it for
a man to lie easily at full length。 The method of closing the cavity again is
equally simple。 Place both your hands on the temples of the figures； pull
as if you were pulling it towards youand the hearthstone will revolve into
its proper position again。
'You need read no farther；' said the Countess。 'Be careful to
remember what you have read。'
She put back the page of vellum in her writing…desk； lo
