the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第40节
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remember what you have read。'
She put back the page of vellum in her writing…desk； locked it； and led
the way to the door。
'Come！' she said； 'and see what the mocking Frenchman called 〃The
beginning of the end。〃 '
Agnes was barely able to rise from her chair； she trembled from head
to foot。 Henry gave her his arm to support her。 'Fear nothing；' he
whispered； 'I shall be with you。'
The Countess proceeded along the westward corridor； and stopped at
the door numbered Thirty…eight。 This was the room which had been
inhabited by Baron Rivar in the old days of the palace： it was situated
immediately over the bedchamber in which Agnes had passed the night。
For the last two days the room had been empty。 The absence of luggage in
it； when they opened the door； showed that it had not yet been let。
'You see？' said the Countess； pointing to the carved figure at the fire…
place； 'and you know what to do。 Have I deserved that you should
temper justice with mercy？' she went on in lower tones。 'Give me a few
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hours more to myself。 The Baron wants money I must get on with my
play。'
She smiled vacantly； and imitated the action of writing with her right
hand as she pronounced the last words。 The effort of concentrating her
weakened mind on other and less familiar topics than the constant want of
money in the Baron's lifetime； and the vague prospect of gain from the
still unfinished play； had evidently exhausted her poor reserves of strength。
When her request had been granted； she addressed no expressions of
gratitude to Agnes； she only said； 'Feel no fear； miss； of my attempting to
escape you。 Where you are； there I must be till the end comes。'
Her eyes wandered round the room with a last weary and stupefied
look。 She returned to her writing with slow and feeble steps； like the steps
of an old woman。
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CHAPTER XXIV
Henry and Agnes were left alone in the Room of the Caryatides。
The person who had written the description of the palace probably a
poor author or artisthad correctly pointed out the defects of the mantel…
piece。 Bad taste； exhibiting itself on the most costly and splendid scale；
was visible in every part of the work。 It was nevertheless greatly
admired by ignorant travellers of all classes； partly on account of its
imposing size； and partly on account of the number of variously…coloured
marbles which the sculptor had contrived to introduce into his design。
Photographs of the mantel…piece were exhibited in the public rooms； and
found a ready sale among English and American visitors to the hotel。
Henry led Agnes to the figure on the left； as they stood facing the
empty fire…place。 'Shall I try the experiment；' he asked； 'or will you？' She
abruptly drew her arm away from him； and turned back to the door。 'I can't
even look at it；' she said。 'That merciless marble face frightens me！'
Henry put his hand on the forehead of the figure。 'What is there to
alarm you； my dear； in this conventionally classical face？' he asked
jestingly。 Before he could press the head inwards； Agnes hurriedly
opened the door。 'Wait till I am out of the room！' she cried。 'The bare
idea of what you may find there horrifies me！' She looked back into the
room as she crossed the threshold。 'I won't leave you altogether；' she said；
'I will wait outside。'
She closed the door。 Left by himself； Henry lifted his hand once
more to the marble forehead of the figure。
For the second time； he was checked on the point of setting the
machinery of the hiding…place in motion。 On this occasion； the
interruption came from an outbreak of friendly voices in the corridor。 A
woman's voice exclaimed； 'Dearest Agnes； how glad I am to see you
again！' A man's voice followed； offering to introduce some friend to
'Miss Lockwood。' A third voice （which Henry recognised as the voice of
the manager of the hotel） became audible next； directing the housekeeper
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to show the ladies and gentlemen the vacant apartments at the other end of
the corridor。 'If more accommodation is wanted；' the manager went on； 'I
have a charming room to let here。' He opened the door as he spoke； and
found himself face to face with Henry Westwick。
'This is indeed an agreeable surprise； sir！' said the manager cheerfully。
'You are admiring our famous chimney…piece； I see。 May I ask； Mr。
Westwick； how you find yourself in the hotel； this time？ Have the
supernatural influences affected your appetite again？'
'The supernatural influences have spared me； this time；' Henry
answered。 'Perhaps you may yet find that they have affected some other
member of the family。' He spoke gravely； resenting the familiar tone in
which the manager had referred to his previous visit to the hotel。 'Have
you just returned？' he asked； by way of changing the topic。
'Just this minute； sir。 I had the honour of travelling in the same train
with friends of yours who have arrived at the hotel Mr。 and Mrs。 Arthur
Barville； and their travelling companions。 Miss Lockwood is with them；
looking at the rooms。 They will be here before long； if they find it
convenient to have an extra room at their disposal。'
This announcement decided Henry on exploring the hiding…place；
before the interruption occurred。 It had crossed his mind； when Agnes
left him； that he ought perhaps to have a witness； in the not very probable
event of some alarming discovery taking place。 The too…familiar manager；
suspecting nothing； was there at his disposal。 He turned again to the
Caryan figure； maliciously resolving to make the manager his witness。
'I am delighted to hear that our friends have arrived at last；' he said。
'Before I shake hands with them； let me ask you a question about this
queer work of art here。 I see photographs of it downstairs。 Are they for
sale？'
'Certainly； Mr。 Westwick！'
'Do you think the chimney…piece is as solid as it looks？' Henry
proceeded。 'When you came in； I was just wondering whether this figure
here had not accidentally got loosened from the wall behind it。' He laid his
hand on the marble forehead； for the third time。 'To my eye； it looks a little
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out of the perpendicular。 I almost fancied I could jog the head just now；
when I touched it。' He pressed the head inwards as he said those words。
A sound of jarring iron was instantly audible behind the wall。 The
solid hearthstone in front of the fire…place turned slowly at the feet of the
two men； and disclosed a dark cavity below。 At the same moment； the
strange and sickening combination of odours； hitherto associated with the
vaults of the old palace and with the bed…chamber beneath； now floated up
from the open recess； and filled the room。
The manager started back。 'Good God； Mr。 Westwick！' he exclaimed；
'what does this mean？'
Remembering； not only what his brother Francis had felt in the room
beneath； but what the experience of Agnes had been on the previous night；
Henry was determined to be on his guard。 'I am as much surprised as you
are；' was his only reply。
'Wait for me one moment； sir；' said the manager。 'I must stop the
ladies and gentlemen outside from coming in。'
He hurried awaynot forgetting to close the door after him。 Henry
opened the window；
