the haunted hotel-第12节
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living here； and I and the palace are entirely at your disposal。〃
From first to last we found this gentleman perfectly straighforward；
and most amiably willing to assist us。
'With the one exception of her ladyship's room； we went over
the whole of the palace the same day。 It is an immense place
only partially furnished。 The first floor and part of the second
floor were the portions of it that had been inhabited by Lord
Montbarry and the members of the household。 We saw the bedchamber；
at one extremity of the palace； in which his lordship died；
and the small room communicating with it； which he used as a study。
Next to this was a large apartment or hall； the doors of which
he habitually kept locked； his object being （as we were informed）
to pursue his studies uninterruptedly in perfect solitude。
On the other side of the large hall were the bedchamber occupied
by her ladyship； and the dressing…room in which the maid slept
previous to her departure for England。 Beyond these were the dining
and reception rooms； opening into an antechamber； which gave access
to the grand staircase of the palace。
'The only inhabited rooms on the second floor were the sitting…room
and bedroom occupied by Baron Rivar； and another room at some
distance from it； which had been the bedroom of the courier Ferrari。
'The rooms on the third floor and on the basement were
completely unfurnished； and in a condition of great neglect。
We inquired if there was anything to be seen below the basement
and we were at once informed that there were vaults beneath；
which we were at perfect liberty to visit。
'We went down； so as to leave no part of the palace unexplored。
The vaults were； it was believed； used as dungeons in the old times
say； some centuries since。 Air and light were only partially admitted
to these dismal places by two long shafts of winding construction；
which communicated with the back yard of the palace； and the openings
of which； high above the ground； were protected by iron gratings。
The stone stairs leading down into the vaults could be closed at
will by a heavy trap…door in the back hall； which we found open。
The Baron himself led the way down the stairs。 We remarked that it might
be awkward if that trap…door fell down and closed the opening behind us。
The Baron smiled at the idea。 〃Don't be alarmed； gentlemen；〃 he said；
〃the door is safe。 I had an interest in seeing to it myself；
when we first inhabited the palace。 My favourite study is the study
of experimental chemistryand my workshop； since we have been in Venice；
is down here。〃
'These last words explained a curious smell in the vaults；
which we noticed the moment we entered them。 We can only describe
the smell by saying that it was of a twofold sortfaintly aromatic；
as it were； in its first effect； but with some after…odour very
sickening in our nostrils。 The Baron's furnaces and retorts；
and other things； were all there to speak for themselves；
together with some packages of chemicals； having the name and address
of the person who had supplied them plainly visible on their labels。
〃Not a pleasant place for study；〃 Baron Rivar observed； 〃but my sister
is timid。 She has a horror of chemical smells and explosions
and she has banished me to these lower regions； so that my experiments
may neither be smelt nor heard。〃 He held out his hands； on which we
had noticed that he wore gloves in the house。 〃Accidents will
happen sometimes；〃 he said； 〃no matter how careful a man may be。
I burnt my hands severely in trying a new combination the other day；
and they are only recovering now。〃
'We mention these otherwise unimportant incidents； in order to show
that our exploration of the palace was not impeded by any attempt
at concealment。 We were even admitted to her ladyship's own room
on a subsequent occasion； when she went out to take the air。
Our instructions recommended us to examine his lordship's residence；
because the extreme privacy of his life at Venice； and the
remarkable departure of the only two servants in the house；
might have some suspicious connection with the nature of his death。
We found nothing to justify suspicion。
'As to his lordship's retired way of life； we have conversed on
the subject with the consul and the bankerthe only two strangers
who held any communication with him。 He called once at the bank
to obtain money on his letter of credit； and excused himself from
accepting an invitation to visit the banker at his private residence；
on the ground of delicate health。 His lordship wrote to the same
effect on sending his card to the consul； to excuse himself
from personally returning that gentleman's visit to the palace。
We have seen the letter； and we beg to offer the following copy of it。
〃Many years passed in India have injured my constitution。
I have ceased to go into society； the one occupation of my life
now is the study of Oriental literature。 The air of Italy is better
for me than the air of England； or I should never have left home。
Pray accept the apologies of a student and an invalid。 The active
part of my life is at an end。〃 The self…seclusion of his lordship
seems to us to be explained in these brief lines。 We have not；
however； on that account spared our inquiries in other directions。
Nothing to excite a suspicion of anything wrong has come to
our knowledge。
'As to the departure of the lady's maid； we have seen the woman's
receipt for her wages； in which it is expressly stated that she
left Lady Montbarry's service because she disliked the Continent；
and wished to get back to her own country。 This is not an
uncommon result of taking English servants to foreign parts。
Lady Montbarry has informed us that she abstained from engaging
another maid in consequence of the extreme dislike which his lordship
expressed to having strangers in the house； in the state of his health
at that time。
'The disappearance of the courier Ferrari is； in itself；
unquestionably a suspicious circumstance。 Neither her ladyship nor
the Baron can explain it； and no investigation that we could make
has thrown the smallest light on this event； or has justified us in
associating it； directly or indirectly； with the object of our inquiry。
We have even gone the length of examining the portmanteau which
Ferrari left behind him。 It contains nothing but clothes and linen
no money； and not even a scrap of paper in the pockets of the clothes。
The portmanteau remains in charge of the police。
'We have also found opportunities of speaking privately to the old
woman who attends to the rooms occupied by her ladyship and the Baron。
She was recommended to fill this situation by the keeper of the restaurant
who has supplied the meals to the family throughout the period
of their residence at the palace。 Her character is most favourably
spoken of。 Unfortunately； her limited intelligence makes her of no
value as a witness。 We were patient and careful in questioning her；
and we found her perfectly willing to answer us； but we could
elicit nothing which is worth including in the present report。
'On the second day of our inquiries； we had the honour of an interview
with Lady Montbarry。 Her ladyship looked miserably worn and ill；
and seemed to be quite at a loss to understand what we wanted with her。
Baron Rivar； who introduced us； explained the nature of our errand
in Venice； and took pains to assure her that it was a purely formal duty
on which we were engaged。 Having satisfied her ladyship on this point；
he discreetly left the room。
'The questions which we addressed to Lady Montbarry related mainly；
of course； to his lordship's illness。 The answers； given with great
nervousness of manner； but without the slightest appearance of reserve；
informed us of the facts that follow：
'Lord Montbarry had been out of order for some time past
nervous and irritable。 He first complained of having taken cold on
November 13 last； he passed a wakeful and feverish night； and remained
in bed the next day。 Her ladyship proposed sending for medical advice。
He refused to allow her to do this； saying that he could quite easily
be his own doctor in such a trifling matter as a cold。 Some hot lemonade
was made at his request； with a view to producing perspiration。
Lady Montbarry's maid having left her at that time； the courier Fer
