the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第5节
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worth her while； were the members who wondered most loudly at
Montbarry's choice of a wife。
While the topic of the Countess's marriage was still the one topic of
conversation； a member of the club entered the smoking…room whose
appearance instantly produced a dead silence。 Doctor Wybrow's next
neighbour whispered to him； 'Montbarry's brother Henry Westwick！'
The new…comer looked round him slowly； with a bitter smile。
'You are all talking of my brother；'he said。 'Don't mind me。 Not one
of you can despise him more heartily than I do。 Go on； gentlemengo on！'
But one man present took the speaker at his word。 That man was the
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lawyer who had already undertaken the defence of the Countess。
'I stand alone in my opinion；' he said； 'and I am not ashamed of
repeating it in anybody's hearing。 I consider the Countess Narona to be a
cruelly…treated woman。 Why shouldn't she be Lord Montbarry's wife？
Who can say she has a mercenary motive in marrying him？'
Montbarry's brother turned sharply on the speaker。 'I say it！' he
answered。
The reply might have shaken some men。 The lawyer stood on his
ground as firmly as ever。
'I believe I am right；' he rejoined； 'in stating that his lordship's income
is not more than sufficient to support his station in life； also that it is an
income derived almost entirely from landed property in Ireland； every acre
of which is entailed。'
Montbarry's brother made a sign； admitting that he had no objection to
offer so far。
'If his lordship dies first；' the lawyer proceeded； 'I have been informed
that the only provision he can make for his widow consists in a rent…
charge on the property of no more than four hundred a year。 His retiring
pension and allowances； it is well known； die with him。 Four hundred a
year is therefore all that he can leave to the Countess； if he leaves her a
widow。'
'Four hundred a year is not all；' was the reply to this。 'My brother has
insured his life for ten thousand pounds； and he has settled the whole of it
on the Countess； in the event of his death。'
This announcement produced a strong sensation。 Men looked at each
other； and repeated the three startling words； 'Ten thousand pounds！'
Driven fairly to the wall； the lawyer made a last effort to defend his
position。
'May I ask who made that settlement a condition of the marriage？' he
said。 'Surely it was not the Countess herself？。'
Henry Westwick answered； 'it was the Countess's brother'； and added；
'which comes to the same thing。'
After that； there was no more to be saidso long； at least； as
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Montbarry's brother was present。 The talk flowed into other channels；
and the Doctor went home。
But his morbid curiosity about the Countess was not set at rest yet。 In
his leisure moments he found himself wondering whether Lord
Montbarry's family would succeed in stopping the marriage after all。 And
more than this； he was conscious of a growing desire to see the infatuated
man himself。 Every day during the brief interval before the wedding； he
looked in at the club； on the chance of hearing some news。 Nothing had
happened； so far as the club knew。 The Countess's position was secure；
Montbarry's resolution to be her husband was unshaken。 They were both
Roman Catholics； and they were to be married at the chapel in Spanish
Place。 So much the Doctor discovered about them and no more。
On the day of the wedding； after a feeble struggle with himself； he
actually sacrificed his patients and their guineas； and slipped away secretly
to see the marriage。 To the end of his life； he was angry with anybody
who reminded him of what he had done on that day！
The wedding was strictly private。 A close carriage stood at the
church door； a few people； mostly of the lower class； and mostly old
women； were scattered about the interior of the building。 Here and there
Doctor Wybrow detected the faces of some of his brethren of the club；
attracted by curiosity； like himself。 Four persons only stood before the
altarthe bride and bridegroom and their two witnesses。 One of these
last was an elderly woman； who might have been the Countess's
companion or maid； the other was undoubtedly her brother； Baron Rivar。
The bridal party （the bride herself included） wore their ordinary morning
costume。 Lord Montbarry； personally viewed； was a middle…aged military
man of the ordinary type： nothing in the least remarkable distinguished
him either in face or figure。 Baron Rivar； again； in his way was another
conventional representative of another well…known type。 One sees his
finely…pointed moustache； his bold eyes； his crisply…curling hair； and his
dashing carriage of the head； repeated hundreds of times over on the
Boulevards of Paris。 The only noteworthy point about him was of the
negative sort he was not in the least like his sister。 Even the officiating
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priest was only a harmless； humble…looking old man； who went through
his duties resignedly； and felt visible rheumatic difficulties every time he
bent his knees。 The one remarkable person； the Countess herself； only
raised her veil at the beginning of the ceremony； and presented nothing in
her plain dress that was worth a second look。 Never； on the face of it；
was there a less interesting and less romantic marriage than this。 From
time to time the Doctor glanced round at the door or up at the galleries；
vaguely anticipating the appearance of some protesting stranger； in
possession of some terrible secret； commissioned to forbid the progress of
the service。 Nothing in the shape of an event occurred nothing
extraordinary； nothing dramatic。 Bound fast together as man and wife；
the two disappeared； followed by their witnesses； to sign the registers； and
still Doctor Wybrow waited； and still he cherished the obstinate hope that
something worth seeing must certainly happen yet。
The interval passed； and the married couple； returning to the church；
walked together down the nave to the door。 Doctor Wybrow drew back
as they approached。 To his confusion and surprise； the Countess
discovered him。 He heard her say to her husband； 'One moment； I see a
friend。' Lord Montbarry bowed and waited。 She stepped up to the Doctor；
took his hand； and wrung it hard。 He felt her overpowering black eyes
looking at him through her veil。 'One step more； you see； on the way to
the end！' She whispered those strange words； and returned to her husband。
Before the Doctor could recover himself and follow her； Lord and Lady
Montbarry had stepped into their carriage； and had driven away。
Outside the church door stood the three or four members of the club
who； like Doctor Wybrow； had watched the ceremony out of curiosity。
Near them was the bride's brother； waiting alone。 He was evidently bent
on seeing the man whom his sister had spoken to； in broad daylight。 His
bold eyes rested on the Doctor's face； with a momentary flash of suspicion
in them。 The cloud suddenly cleared away； the Baron smiled with
charming courtesy； lifted his hat to his sister's friend； and walked off。
The members constituted themselves into a club conclave on the
church steps。 They began with the Baron。 'Damned ill…looking rascal！'
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They went on with Montbarry。 'Is he going
