the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第9节
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as surprised。 It was still early in the evening。 She at once sent a message
to Mrs。 Ferrari； to say that she had returned。
In an hour more the courier's wife appeared； in a state of agitation
which it was not easy to control。 Her narrative； when she was at last able
to speak connectedly； entirely confirmed the nurse's report of it。
After hearing from her husband with tolerable regularity from Paris；
Rome； and Venice； Emily had twice written to him afterwards and had
received no reply。 Feeling uneasy； she had gone to the office in Golden
Square； to inquire if he had been heard of there。 The post of the morning
had brought a letter to the secretary from a courier then at Venice。 It
contained startling news of Ferrari。 His wife had been allowed to take a
copy of it； which she now handed to Agnes to read。
The writer stated that he had recently arrived in Venice。 He had
previously heard that Ferrari was with Lord and Lady Montbarry； at one of
the old Venetian palaces which they had hired for a term。 Being a friend of
Ferrari； he had gone to pay him a visit。 Ringing at the door that opened on
the canal； and failing to make anyone hear him； he had gone round to a
side entrance opening on one of the narrow lanes of Venice。 Here；
standing at the door （as if she was waiting for him to try that way next）； he
found a pale woman with magnificent dark eyes； who proved to be no
other than Lady Montbarry herself。
She asked； in Italian； what he wanted。 He answered that he wanted to
see the courier Ferrari； if it was quite convenient。 She at once informed
him that Ferrari had left the palace； without assigning any reason； and
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without even leaving an address at which his monthly salary （then due to
him） could be paid。 Amazed at this reply； the courier inquired if any
person had offended Ferrari； or quarrelled with him。 The lady answered；
'To my knowledge； certainly not。 I am Lady Montbarry； and I can
positively assure you that Ferrari was treated with the greatest kindness in
this house。 We are as much astonished as you are at his extraordinary
disappearance。 If you should hear of him； pray let us know； so that we may
at least pay him the money which is due。'
After one or two more questions （quite readily answered） relating to
the date and the time of day at which Ferrari had left the palace； the
courier took his leave。
He at once entered on the necessary investigationswithout the
slightest result so far as Ferrari was concerned。 Nobody had seen him。
Nobody appeared to have been taken into his confidence。 Nobody knew
anything （that is to say； anything of the slightest importance） even about
persons so distinguished as Lord and Lady Montbarry。 It was reported that
her ladyship's English maid had left her； before the disappearance of
Ferrari； to return to her relatives in her own country； and that Lady
Montbarry had taken no steps to supply her place。 His lordship was
described as being in delicate health。 He lived in the strictest retirement
nobody was admitted to him； not even his own countrymen。 A stupid old
woman was discovered who did the housework at the palace； arriving in
the morning and going away again at night。 She had never seen the lost
courier she had never even seen Lord Montbarry； who was then confined
to his room。 Her ladyship； 'a most gracious and adorable mistress；' was
in constant attendance on her noble husband。 There was no other servant
then in the house （so far as the old woman knew） but herself。 The meals
were sent in from a restaurant。 My lord； it was said； disliked strangers。
My lord's brother…in…law； the Baron； was generally shut up in a remote part
of the palace； occupied （the gracious mistress said） with experiments in
chemistry。 The experiments sometimes made a nasty smell。 A doctor had
latterly been called in to his lordshipan Italian doctor； long resident in
Venice。 Inquiries being addressed to this gentleman （a physician of
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undoubted capacity and respectability）； it turned out that he also had never
seen Ferrari； having been summoned to the palace （as his memorandum
book showed） at a date subsequent to the courier's disappearance。 The
doctor described Lord Montbarry's malady as bronchitis。 So far； there was
no reason to feel any anxiety； though the attack was a sharp one。 If
alarming symptoms should appear； he had arranged with her ladyship to
call in another physician。 For the rest； it was impossible to speak too
highly of my lady； night and day； she was at her lord's bedside。
With these particulars began and ended the discoveries made by
Ferrari's courier…friend。 The police were on the look…out for the lost man
and that was the only hope which could be held forth for the present； to
Ferrari's wife。
'What do you think of it； Miss？' the poor woman asked eagerly。 'What
would you advise me to do？'
Agnes was at a loss how to answer her； it was an effort even to listen
to what Emily was saying。 The references in the courier's letter to
Montbarrythe report of his illness； the melancholy picture of his
secluded lifehad reopened the old wound。 She was not even thinking of
the lost Ferrari； her mind was at Venice； by the sick man's bedside。
'I hardly know what to say；' she answered。 'I have had no experience
in serious matters of this kind。'
'Do you think it would help you； Miss； if you read my husband's letters
to me？ There are only three of themthey won't take long to read。'
Agnes compassionately read the letters。
They were not written in a very tender tone。 'Dear Emily；' and 'Yours
affectionately'these conventional phrases； were the only phrases of
endearment which they contained。 In the first letter； Lord Montbarry was
not very favourably spoken of：'We leave Paris to…morrow。 I don't much
like my lord。 He is proud and cold； and； between ourselves； stingy in
money matters。 I have had to dispute such trifles as a few centimes in the
hotel bill； and twice already； some sharp remarks have passed between the
newly…married couple； in consequence of her ladyship's freedom in
purchasing pretty tempting things at the shops in Paris。 〃I can't afford it；
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you must keep to your allowance。〃 She has had to hear those words
already。 For my part； I like her。 She has the nice； easy foreign
mannersshe talks to me as if I was a human being like herself。'
The second letter was dated from Rome。
'My lord's caprices' （Ferrari wrote） 'have kept us perpetually on the
move。 He is becoming incurably restless。 I suspect he is uneasy in his
mind。 Painful recollections； I should sayI find him constantly reading
old letters； when her ladyship is not present。 We were to have stopped at
Genoa； but he hurried us on。 The same thing at Florence。 Here； at
Rome； my lady insists on resting。 Her brother has met us at this place。
There has been a quarrel already （the lady's maid tells me） between my
lord and the Baron。 The latter wanted to borrow money of the former。
His lordship refused in language which offended Baron Rivar。 My lady
pacified them； and made them shake hands。'
The third； and last letter； was from Venice。
'More of my lord's economy！ Instead of staying at the hotel； we have
hired a damp； mouldy； rambling old palace。 My lady insists on having
the best suites of rooms wherever we goand the palace co
