the haunted hotel-第13节
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Lady Montbarry's maid having left her at that time； the courier Ferrari
（then the only servant in the house） went out to buy the lemons。
Her ladyship made the drink with her own hands。 It was successful
in producing perspirationand Lord Montbarry had some hours of
sleep afterwards。 Later in the day； having need of Ferrari's services；
Lady Montbarry rang for him。 The bell was not answered。
Baron Rivar searched for the man； in the palace and out of it； in vain。
From that time forth not a trace of Ferrari could be discovered。
This happened on November 14。
'On the night of the 14th； the feverish symptoms accompanying his
lordship's cold returned。 They were in part perhaps attributable to
the annoyance and alarm caused by Ferrari's mysterious disappearance。
It had been impossible to conceal the circumstance； as his lordship
rang repeatedly for the courier； insisting that the man should
relieve Lady Montbarry and the Baron by taking their places during
the night at his bedside。
'On the 15th （the day on which the old woman first came
to do the housework）； his lordship complained of sore throat；
and of a feeling of oppression on the chest。 On this day；
and again on the 16th； her ladyship and the Baron entreated him
to see a doctor。 He still refused。 〃I don't want strange faces
about me； my cold will run its course； in spite of the doctor；〃
that was his answer。 On the 17th he was so much worse that it
was decided to send for medical help whether he liked it or not。
Baron Rivar； after inquiry at the consul's； secured the services
of Doctor Bruno； well known as an eminent physician in Venice；
with the additional recommendation of having resided in England；
and having made himself acquainted with English forms of
medical practice。
'Thus far our account of his lordship's illness has been derived
from statements made by Lady Montbarry。 The narrative will now be
most fitly continued in the language of the doctor's own report；
herewith subjoined。
'〃My medical diary informs me that I first saw the English Lord Montbarry；
on November 17。 He was suffering from a sharp attack of bronchitis。
Some precious time had been lost； through his obstinate objection
to the presence of a medical man at his bedside。 Generally speaking；
he appeared to be in a delicate state of health。 His nervous
system was out of orderhe was at once timid and contradictory。
When I spoke to him in English； he answered in Italian；
and when I tried him in Italian； he went back to English。
It mattered littlethe malady had already made such progress
that he could only speak a few words at a time； and those in
a whisper。
'〃I at once applied the necessary remedies。 Copies of my prescriptions
（with translation into English） accompany the present statement；
and are left to speak for themselves。
'〃For the next three days I was in constant attendance on my patient。
He answered to the remedies employedimproving slowly； but decidedly。
I could conscientiously assure Lady Montbarry that no danger was
to be apprehended thus far。 She was indeed a most devoted wife。
I vainly endeavoured to induce her to accept the services of a
competent nurse； she would allow nobody to attend on her husband
but herself。 Night and day this estimable woman was at his bedside。
In her brief intervals of repose； her brother watched the sick man
in her place。 This brother was； I must say； very good company；
in the intervals when we had time for a little talk。 He dabbled
in chemistry； down in the horrid under…water vaults of the palace；
and he wanted to show me some of his experiments。 I have enough of
chemistry in writing prescriptionsand I declined。 He took it quite
good…humouredly。
'〃I am straying away from my subject。 Let me return to the sick lord。
'〃Up to the 20th； then； things went well enough。 I was quite
unprepared for the disastrous change that showed itself；
when I paid Lord Montbarry my morning visit on the 21st。
He had relapsed； and seriously relapsed。 Examining him to discover
the cause； I found symptoms of pneumoniathat is to say；
in unmedical language； inflammation of the substance of the lungs。
He breathed with difficulty； and was only partially able to relieve
himself by coughing。 I made the strictest inquiries； and was assured
that his medicine had been administered as carefully as usual；
and that he had not been exposed to any changes of temperature。
It was with great reluctance that I added to Lady Montbarry's distress；
but I felt bound； when she suggested a consultation with
another physician； to own that I too thought there was really need
for it。
'〃Her ladyship instructed me to spare no expense； and to get the best
medical opinion in Italy。 The best opinion was happily within our reach。
The first and foremost of Italian physicians is Torello of Padua。
I sent a special messenger for the great man。 He arrived on the evening
of the 21 st； and confirmed my opinion that pneumonia had set in；
and that our patient's life was in danger。 I told him what my treatment
of the case had been； and he approved of it in every particular。
He made some valuable suggestions； and （at Lady Montbarry's
express request） he consented to defer his return to Padua until
the following morning。
'〃We both saw the patient at intervals in the course of the night。
The disease； steadily advancing； set our utmost resistance at defiance。
In the morning Doctor Torello took his leave。 'I can be of no
further use；' he said to me。 'The man is past all helpand he ought
to know it。'
'〃Later in the day I warned my lord； as gently as I could；
that his time had come。 I am informed that there are serious reasons
for my stating what passed between us on this occasion； in detail；
and without any reserve。 I comply with the request。
'〃Lord Montbarry received the intelligence of his approaching death
with becoming composure； but with a certain doubt。 He signed to me
to put my ear to his mouth。 He whispered faintly； 'Are you sure？'
It was no time to deceive him； I said； 'Positively sure。'
He waited a little； gasping for breath； and then he whispered again；
'Feel under my pillow。' I found under his pillow a letter；
sealed and stamped； ready for the post。 His next words were just
audible and no more'Post it yourself。' I answered； of course；
that I would do soand I did post the letter with my own hand。
I looked at the address。 It was directed to a lady in London。
The street I cannot remember。 The name I can perfectly recall：
it was an Italian name'Mrs。 Ferrari。'
'〃That night my lord nearly died of asphyxia。 I got him through it
for the time； and his eyes showed that he understood me when I told him；
the next morning； that I had posted the letter。 This was his last
effort of consciousness。 When I saw him again he was sunk in apathy。
He lingered in a state of insensibility； supported by stimulants；
until the 25th； and died （unconscious to the last） on the evening of
that day。
'〃As to the cause of his death； it seems （if I may be excused for
saying so） simply absurd to ask the question。 Bronchitis； terminating
in pneumoniathere is no more doubt that this； and this only；
was the malady of which he expired； than that two and two make four。
Doctor Torello's own note of the case is added here to a duplicate
of my certificate； in order （as I am informed） to satisfy
some English offices in which his lordship's life was insured。
The English offices must have been founded by that celebrated saint
and doubter； mentioned in the New Testament； whose name was Thomas！〃
'Doctor Bruno's evidence ends here。
'Reverting for a moment to our inquiries addressed to Lady Montbarry；
we have to report that she can give us no information on the subject
of the letter which the doctor posted at Lord Montbarry's request。
When his lordship wrote it？ what it contained？ why he kept
it a secret from Lady Montbarry （and from the Baron also）；
and why he should write at all to the wife of his courier？ these
are questions to which we find it simply impossible to obtain
any replies。 It seems even useless to say that the matter is
open to suspicion。 Suspicion implies conjecture of some kind
and the letter under my lord's pillow baffles all conjecture。
Application to Mrs。 Fe
