the haunted hotel-第1节
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL
A Mystery of Modern Venice
by Wilkie Collins
THE FIRST PART
CHAPTER I
In the year 1860； the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London
physician reached its highest point。 It was reported on good
authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes
derived from the practice of medicine in modern times。
One afternoon； towards the close of the London season； the Doctor
had just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work
in his consulting…room； and with a formidable list of visits
to patients at their own houses to fill up the rest of his day
when the servant announced that a lady wished to speak to him。
'Who is she？' the Doctor asked。 'A stranger？'
'Yes； sir。'
'I see no strangers out of consulting…hours。 Tell her what the hours are；
and send her away。'
'I have told her； sir。'
'Well？'
'And she won't go。'
'Won't go？' The Doctor smiled as he repeated the words。 He was
a humourist in his way； and there was an absurd side to the situation
which rather amused him。 'Has this obstinate lady given you her name？'
he inquired。
'No； sir。 She refused to give any nameshe said she wouldn't keep
you five minutes； and the matter was too important to wait till
to…morrow。 There she is in the consulting…room； and how to get
her out again is more than I know。'
Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment。 His knowledge of women
（professionally speaking） rested on the ripe experience of more
than thirty years； he had met with them in all their varieties
especially the variety which knows nothing of the value of time；
and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex。
A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds
among the patients who were waiting for him at their own houses。
He decided forthwith on taking the only wise course that was open
under the circumstances。 In other words； he decided on taking
to flight。
'Is the carriage at the door？' he asked。
'Yes； sir。'
'Very well。 Open the house…door for me without making any noise；
and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting…room。
When she gets tired of waiting； you know what to tell her。
If she asks when I am expected to return； say that I dine at my club；
and spend the evening at the theatre。 Now then； softly； Thomas！
If your shoes creak； I am a lost man。'
He noiselessly led the way into the hall； followed by the servant
on tip…toe。
Did the lady in the consulting…room suspect him？ or did Thomas's
shoes creak； and was her sense of hearing unusually keen？
Whatever the explanation may be； the event that actually happened
was beyond all doubt。 Exactly as Doctor Wybrow passed his
consulting…room； the door openedthe lady appeared on the threshold
and laid her hand on his arm。
'I entreat you； sir； not to go away without letting me speak
to you first。'
The accent was foreign； the tone was low and firm。 Her fingers
closed gently； and yet resolutely； on the Doctor's arm。
Neither her language nor her action had the slightest effect in inclining
him to grant her request。 The influence that instantly stopped him；
on the way to his carriage； was the silent influence of her face。
The startling contrast between the corpse…like pallor of her
complexion and the overpowering life and light； the glittering
metallic brightness in her large black eyes； held him literally
spell…bound。 She was dressed in dark colours； with perfect taste；
she was of middle height； and （apparently） of middle agesay a year
or two over thirty。 Her lower featuresthe nose； mouth； and chin
possessed the fineness and delicacy of form which is oftener seen
among women of foreign races than among women of English birth。
She was unquestionably a handsome personwith the one serious
drawback of her ghastly complexion； and with the less noticeable
defect of a total want of tenderness in the expression of her eyes。
Apart from his first emotion of surprise； the feeling she produced
in the Doctor may be described as an overpowering feeling of
professional curiosity。 The case might prove to be something entirely
new in his professional experience。 'It looks like it；' he thought；
'and it's worth waiting for。'
She perceived that she she had produced a strong impression
of some kind upon him； and dropped her hold on his arm。
'You have comforted many miserable women in your time；' she said。
'Comfort one more； to…day。'
Without waiting to be answered； she led the way back into the room。
The Doctor followed her； and closed the door。 He placed her
in the patients' chair； opposite the windows。 Even in London
the sun； on that summer afternoon； was dazzlingly bright。
The radiant light flowed in on her。 Her eyes met it unflinchingly；
with the steely steadiness of the eyes of an eagle。 The smooth
pallor of her unwrinkled skin looked more fearfully white than ever。
For the first time； for many a long year past； the Doctor felt his pulse
quicken its beat in the presence of a patient。
Having possessed herself of his attention； she appeared；
strangely enough； to have nothing to say to him。 A curious apathy
seemed to have taken possession of this resolute woman。 Forced to
speak first； the Doctor merely inquired； in the conventional phrase；
what he could do for her。
The sound of his voice seemed to rouse her。 Still looking straight
at the light； she said abruptly： 'I have a painful question to ask。'
'What is it？'
Her eyes travelled slowly from the window to the Doctor's face。
Without the slightest outward appearance of agitation； she put
the 'painful question' in these extraordinary words：
'I want to know； if you please； whether I am in danger of going mad？'
Some men might have been amused； and some might have been alarmed。
Doctor Wybrow was only conscious of a sense of disappointment。
Was this the rare case that he had anticipated； judging rashly
by appearances？ Was the new patient only a hypochondriacal woman；
whose malady was a disordered stomach and whose misfortune was a
weak brain？ 'Why do you come to me？' he asked sharply。 'Why don't
you consult a doctor whose special employment is the treatment of
the insane？'
She had her answer ready on the instant。
'I don't go to a doctor of that sort；' she said； 'for the very
reason that he is a specialist： he has the fatal habit of judging
everybody by lines and rules of his own laying down。 I come to you；
because my case is outside of all lines and rules； and because you are
famous in your profession for the discovery of mysteries in disease。
Are you satisfied？'
He was more than satisfiedhis first idea had been the right idea；
after all。 Besides； she was correctly informed as to his
professional position。 The capacity which had raised him to fame
and fortune was his capacity （unrivalled among his brethren）
for the discovery of remote disease。
'I am at your disposal；' he answered。 'Let me try if I can find
out what is the matter with you。'
He put his medical questions。 They were promptly and plainly answered；
and they led to no other conclusion than that the strange lady was；
mentally and physically； in excellent health。 Not satisfied
with questions； he carefully examined the great organs of life。
Neither his hand nor his stethoscope could discover anything that
was amiss。 With the admirable patience and devotion to his art
which had distinguished him from the time when he was a student；
he still subjected her to one test after another。 The result was
always the same。 Not only was there no tendency to brain disease
there was not even a perceptible derangement of the nervous system。
'I can find nothing the matter with you；' he said。 'I can't even
account for the extraordinary pallor of your complexion。 You completely
puzzle me。'
'The pallor of my complexion is nothing；' she answered a
little impatiently。 'In my early life I had a narrow escape from
death by poisoning。 I have never had a complexion sinceand my skin
is so delicate； I cannot paint w
