the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第50节
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been made for the first Lord Montbarry。
Henry never revealed the existence of this last link in the chain of
discovery to any living creature； his brother Stephen included。 He carried
his terrible secret with him to the grave。
There was one other event in the memorable past on which he
preserved the same compassionate silence。 Little Mrs。 Ferrari never
knew that her husband had beennot； as she supposed； the Countess's
victim but the Countess's accomplice。 She still believed that the late
Lord Montbarry had sent her the thousand…pound note； and still recoiled
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
from making use of a present which she persisted in declaring had 'the
stain of her husband's blood on it。' Agnes； with the widow's entire
approval； took the money to the Children's Hospital； and spent it in adding
to the number of the beds。
In the spring of the new year； the marriage took place。 At the special
request of Agnes； the members of the family were the only persons present
at the ceremony。 There was no wedding breakfast and the honeymoon
was spent in the retirement of a cottage on the banks of the Thames。
During the last few days of the residence of the newly married couple
by the riverside； Lady Montbarry's children were invited to enjoy a day's
play in the garden。 The eldest girl overheard （and reported to her mother）
a little conjugal dialogue which touched on the topic of The Haunted
Hotel。
'Henry； I want you to give me a kiss。'
'There it is； my dear。'
'Now I am your wife； may I speak to you about something？'
'What is it？'
'Something that happened the day before we left Venice。 You saw the
Countess； during the last hours of her life。 Won't you tell me whether she
made any confession to you？'
'No conscious confession； Agnesand therefore no confession that I
need distress you by repeating。'
'Did she say nothing about what she saw or heard； on that dreadful
night in my room？'
'Nothing。 We only know that her mind never recovered the terror of
it。' Agnes was not quite satisfied。 The subject troubled her。 Even her
own brief intercourse with her miserable rival of other days suggested
questions that perplexed her。 She remembered the Countess's prediction。
'You have to bring me to the day of discovery； and to the punishment that
is my doom。' Had the prediction simply faded； like other mortal
prophecies？ or had it been fulfilled on the terrible night when she had
seen the apparition； and when she had innocently tempted the Countess to
watch her in her room？
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
Let it； however； be recorded； among the other virtues of Mrs。 Henry
Westwick； that she never again attempted to persuade her husband into
betraying his secrets。 Other men's wives； hearing of this extraordinary
conduct （and being trained in the modern school of morals and manners）；
naturally regarded her with compassionate contempt。 They spoke of
Agnes； from that time forth； as 'rather an old…fashioned person。'
Is that all？
That is all。
Is there no explanation of the mystery of The Haunted Hotel？
Ask yourself if there is any explanation of the mystery of your own
life and death。Farewell。
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