the haunted hotel-第14节
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and the letter under my lord's pillow baffles all conjecture。
Application to Mrs。 Ferrari may perhaps clear up the mystery。
Her residence in London will be easily discovered at the Italian Couriers'
Office； Golden Square。
'Having arrived at the close of the present report； we have now
to draw your attention to the conclusion which is justified
by the results of our investigation。
'The plain question before our Directors and ourselves appears
to be this： Has the inquiry revealed any extraordinary circumstances
which render the death of Lord Montbarry open to suspicion？
The inquiry has revealed extraordinary circumstances beyond
all doubtsuch as the disappearance of Ferrari； the remarkable
absence of the customary establishment of servants in the house；
and the mysterious letter which his lordship asked the doctor to post。
But where is the proof that any one of these circumstances
is associatedsuspiciously and directly associatedwith the only
event which concerns us； the event of Lord Montbarry's death？
In the absence of any such proof； and in the face of the evidence
of two eminent physicians； it is impossible to dispute the statement
on the certificate that his lordship died a natural death。
We are bound； therefore； to report； that there are no valid grounds for
refusing the payment of the sum for which the late Lord Montbarry's life
was assured。
'We shall send these lines to you by the post of to…morrow；
December 10； leaving time to receive your further instructions
（if any）； in reply to our telegram of this evening announcing
the conclusion of the inquiry。'
CHAPTER IX
'Now； my good creature； whatever you have to say to me；
out with it at once！ I don't want to hurry you needlessly；
but these are business hours； and I have other people's affairs
to attend to besides yours。'
Addressing Ferrari's wife； with his usual blunt good…humour；
in these terms； Mr。 Troy registered the lapse of time by a glance
at the watch on his desk； and then waited to hear what his client
had to say to him。
'It's something more； sir； about the letter with the thousand…pound note；'
Mrs。 Ferrari began。 'I have found out who sent it to me。'
Mr。 Troy started。 'This is news indeed！' he said。 'Who sent you
the letter？'
'Lord Montbarry sent it； sir。'
It was not easy to take Mr。 Troy by surprise。 But Mrs。 Ferrari
threw him completely off his balance。 For a while he could
only look at her in silent surprise。 'Nonsense！' he said；
as soon as he had recovered himself。 'There is some mistake
it can't be！'
'There is no mistake；' Mrs。 Ferrari rejoined； in her most positive manner。
'Two gentlemen from the insurance offices called on me this morning；
to see the letter。 They were completely puzzledespecially when they
heard of the bank…note inside。 But they know who sent the letter。
His lordship's doctor in Venice posted it at his lordship's request。
Go to the gentlemen yourself； sir； if you don't believe me。
They were polite enough to ask if I could account for Lord Montbarry's
writing to me and sending me the money。 I gave them my opinion directly
I said it was like his lordship's kindness。'
'Like his lordship's kindness？' Mr。 Troy repeated； in blank amazement。
'Yes； sir！ Lord Montbarry knew me； like all the other members
of his family； when I was at school on the estate in Ireland。
If he could have done it； he would have protected my poor dear husband。
But he was helpless himself in the hands of my lady and the Baron
and the only kind thing he could do was to provide for me in my widowhood；
like the true nobleman he was！'
'A very pretty explanation！' said Mr。 Troy。 'What did your visitors
from the insurance offices think of it？'
'They asked if I had any proof of my husband's death。'
'And what did you say？'
'I said； 〃I give you better than proof； gentlemen； I give you
my positive opinion。〃'
'That satisfied them； of course？'
'They didn't say so in words； sir。 They looked at each other
and wished me good…morning。'
'Well； Mrs。 Ferrari； unless you have some more extraordinary
news for me； I think I shall wish you good…morning too。
I can take a note of your information （very startling information；
I own）； and； in the absence of proof； I can do no more。'
'I can provide you with proof； sirif that is all you want；'
said Mrs。 Ferrari； with great dignity。 'I only wish
to know； first； whether the law justifies me in doing it。
You may have seen in the fashionable intelligence of the newspapers；
that Lady Montbarry has arrived in London； at Newbury's Hotel。
I propose to go and see her。'
'The deuce you do！ May I ask for what purpose？'
Mrs。 Ferrari answered in a mysterious whisper。 'For the purpose
of catching her in a trap！ I shan't send in my nameI shall
announce myself as a person on business； and the first words I say
to her will be these： 〃I come； my lady； to acknowledge the receipt
of the money sent to Ferrari's widow。〃 Ah！ you may well start；
Mr。 Troy！ It almost takes you off your guard； doesn't it？
Make your mind easy； sir； I shall find the proof that everybody
asks me for in her guilty face。 Let her only change colour by
the shadow of a shadelet her eyes only drop for half an instant
I shall discover her！ The one thing I want to know is； does the law
permit it？'
'The law permits it；' Mr。 Troy answered gravely； 'but whether her
ladyship will permit it； is quite another question。 Have you really
courage enough； Mrs。 Ferrari； to carry out this notable scheme of yours？
You have been described to me； by Miss Lockwood； as rather a nervous；
timid sort of personand； if I may trust my own observation；
I should say you justify the description。'
'If you had lived in the country； sir； instead of living in London；'
Mrs。 Ferrari replied； 'you would sometimes have seen even a sheep
turn on a dog。 I am far from saying that I am a bold woman
quite the reverse。 But when I stand in that wretch's presence； and think
of my murdered husband； the one of us two who is likely to be frightened
is not me。 I am going there now； sir。 You shall hear how it ends。
I wish you good…morning。'
With those brave words the courier's wife gathered her mantle about her；
and walked out of the room。
Mr。 Troy smilednot satirically； but compassionately。
'The little simpleton！' he thought to himself。 'If half of what
they say of Lady Montbarry is true； Mrs。 Ferrari and her trap
have but a poor prospect before them。 I wonder how it will end？'
All Mr。 Troy's experience failed to forewarn him of how it did end。
CHAPTER X
In the mean time； Mrs。 Ferrari held to her resolution。
She went straight from Mr。 Troy's office to Newbury's Hotel。
Lady Montbarry was at home； and alone。 But the authorities
of the hotel hesitated to disturb her when they found that the
visitor declined to mention her name。 Her ladyship's new maid
happened to cross the hall while the matter was still in debate。
She was a Frenchwoman； and； on being appealed to； she settled
the question in the swift； easy； rational French way。
'Madame's appearance was perfectly respectable。 Madame might have
reasons for not mentioning her name which Miladi might approve。
In any case； there being no orders forbidding the introduction of a
strange lady； the matter clearly rested between Madame and Miladi。
Would Madame； therefore； be good enough to follow Miladi's maid up
the stairs？'
In spite of her resolution； Mrs。 Ferrari's heart beat as if it
would burst out of her bosom； when her conductress led her into
an ante…room； and knocked at a door opening into a room beyond。
But it is remarkable that persons of sensitively…nervous organisation
are the very persons who are capable of forcing themselves
（apparently by the exercise of a spasmodic effort of will）
into the performance of acts of the most audacious courage。
A low； grave voice from the inner room said； 'Come in。' The maid；
opening the door； announced； 'A person to see you； Miladi； on business；'
and immediately retired。 In the one instant while these events passed；
timid little Mrs。 Ferrari mastered her own thro
