the haunted hotel-第15节
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and immediately retired。 In the one instant while these events passed；
timid little Mrs。 Ferrari mastered her own throbbing heart；
stepped over the threshold； conscious of her clammy hands； dry lips；
and burning head； and stood in the presence of Lord Montbarry's widow；
to all outward appearance as supremely self…possessed as her
ladyship herself。
It was still early in the afternoon； but the light in the room was dim。
The blinds were drawn down。 Lady Montbarry sat with her back to
the windows； as if even the subdued daylight were disagreeable to her。
She had altered sadly for the worse in her personal appearance；
since the memorable day when Doctor Wybrow had seen her in his
consulting…room。 Her beauty was goneher face had fallen away
to mere skin and bone； the contrast between her ghastly complexion
and her steely glittering black eyes was more startling than ever。
Robed in dismal black； relieved only by the brilliant whiteness
of her widow's capreclining in a panther…like suppleness of
attitude on a little green sofashe looked at the stranger who had
intruded on her； with a moment's languid curiosity； then dropped
her eyes again to the hand…screen which she held between her face
and the fire。 'I don't know you；' she said。 'What do you want
with me？'
Mrs。 Ferrari tried to answer。 Her first burst of courage had already
worn itself out。 The bold words that she had determined to speak
were living words still in her mind； but they died on her lips。
There was a moment of silence。 Lady Montbarry looked round
again at the speechless stranger。 'Are you deaf？' she asked。
There was another pause。 Lady Montbarry quietly looked back again
at the screen； and put another question。 'Do you want money？'
'Money！' That one word roused the sinking spirit of the courier's wife。
She recovered her courage； she found her voice。 'Look at me； my lady；
if you please；' she said； with a sudden outbreak of audacity。
Lady Montbarry looked round for the third time。 The fatal words
passed Mrs。 Ferrari's lips。
'I come； my lady； to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent
to Ferrari's widow。'
Lady Montbarry's glittering black eyes rested with steady
attention on the woman who had addressed her in those terms。
Not the faintest expression of confusion or alarm； not even a momentary
flutter of interest stirred the deadly stillness of her face。
She reposed as quietly； she held the screen as composedly； as ever。
The test had been tried； and had utterly failed。
There was another silence。 Lady Montbarry considered with herself。
The smile that came slowly and went away suddenlythe smile
at once so sad and so cruelshowed itself on her thin lips。
She lifted her screen； and pointed with it to a seat at the
farther end of the room。 'Be so good as to take that chair；'
she said。
Helpless under her first bewildering sense of failurenot knowing
what to say or what to do nextMrs。 Ferrari mechanically obeyed。
Lady Montbarry； rising on the sofa for the first time； watched her
with undisguised scrutiny as she crossed the roomthen sank back
into a reclining position once more。 'No；' she said to herself；
'the woman walks steadily； she is not intoxicatedthe only other
possibility is that she may be mad。'
She had spoken loud enough to be heard。 Stung by the insult；
Mrs。 Ferrari instantly answered her： 'I am no more drunk or mad
than you are！'
'No？' said Lady Montbarry。 'Then you are only insolent？
The ignorant English mind （I have observed） is apt to be insolent in
the exercise of unrestrained English liberty。 This is very noticeable
to us foreigners among you people in the streets。 Of course I can't
be insolent to you； in return。 I hardly know what to say to you。
My maid was imprudent in admitting you so easily to my room。
I suppose your respectable appearance misled her。 I wonder who you are？
You mentioned the name of a courier who left us very strangely。
Was he married by any chance？ Are you his wife？ And do you know where
he is？'
Mrs。 Ferrari's indignation burst its way through all restraints。
She advanced to the sofa； she feared nothing； in the fervour and rage
of her reply。
'I am his widowand you know it； you wicked woman！
Ah！ it was an evil hour when Miss Lockwood recommended my husband
to be his lordship's courier！'
Before she could add another word； Lady Montbarry sprang from the sofa
with the stealthy suddenness of a catseized her by both shoulders
and shook her with the strength and frenzy of a madwoman。 'You lie！
you lie！ you lie！' She dropped her hold at the third repetition of
the accusation； and threw up her hands wildly with a gesture of despair。
'Oh； Jesu Maria！ is it possible？' she cried。 'Can the courier
have come to me through that woman？' She turned like lightning
on Mrs。 Ferrari； and stopped her as she was escaping from the room。
'Stay here； you foolstay here； and answer me！ If you cry out； as sure
as the heavens are above you； I'll strangle you with my own hands。
Sit down againand fear nothing。 Wretch！ It is I who am frightened
frightened out of my senses。 Confess that you lied； when you used
Miss Lockwood's name just now！ No！ I don't believe you on your oath；
I will believe nobody but Miss Lockwood herself。 Where does she live？
Tell me that； you noxious stinging little insectand you may go。'
Terrified as she was； Mrs。 Ferrari hesitated。 Lady Montbarry lifted
her hands threateningly； with the long； lean； yellow…white fingers
outspread and crooked at the tips。 Mrs。 Ferrari shrank at the sight
of them； and gave the address。 Lady Montbarry pointed contemptuously
to the doorthen changed her mind。 'No！ not yet！ you will tell
Miss Lockwood what has happened； and she may refuse to see me。
I will go there at once； and you shall go with me。 As far as the house
not inside of it。 Sit down again。 I am going to ring for my maid。
Turn your back to the dooryour cowardly face is not fit to be
seen！'
She rang the bell。 The maid appeared。
'My cloak and bonnetinstantly！'
The maid produced the cloak and bonnet from the bedroom。
'A cab at the doorbefore I can count ten！'
The maid vanished。 Lady Montbarry surveyed herself in the glass；
and wheeled round again； with her cat…like suddenness； to Mrs。 Ferrari。
'I look more than half dead already； don't I？' she said with a grim
outburst of irony。 'Give me your arm。'
She took Mrs。 Ferrari's arm； and left the room。 'You have nothing
to fear； so long as you obey；' she whispered； on the way downstairs。
'You leave me at Miss Lockwood's door； and never see me again。'
In the hall they were met by the landlady of the hotel。
Lady Montbarry graciously presented her companion。
'My good friend Mrs。 Ferrari； I am so glad to have seen her。'
The landlady accompanied them to the door。 The cab was waiting。
'Get in first； good Mrs。 Ferrari；' said her ladyship； 'and tell the man
where to go。'
They were driven away。 Lady Montbarry's variable humour changed again。
With a low groan of misery； she threw herself back in the cab。
Lost in her own dark thoughts； as careless of the woman whom she
had bent to her iron will as if no such person sat by her side；
she preserved a sinister silence； until they reached the house where
Miss Lockwood lodged。 In an instant； she roused herself to action。
She opened the door of the cab； and closed it again on Mrs。 Ferrari；
before the driver could get off his box。
'Take that lady a mile farther on her way home！' she said；
as she paid the man his fare。 The next moment she had knocked
at the house…door。 'Is Miss Lockwood at home？' 'Yes； ma'am。'
She stepped over the thresholdthe door closed on her。
'Which way； ma'am？' asked the driver of the cab。
Mrs。 Ferrari put her hand to her head； and tried to collect her thoughts。
Could she leave her friend and benefactress helpless at Lady
Montbarry's mercy？ She was still vainly endeavouring to decide on
the course that she ought to followwhen a gentleman； stopping at Miss
Lockwood's door； happened to look towards the cab…window； and saw her。
'Are you going to call on Miss Agnes too？'he asked。
It was Henry Westwick。 Mrs。 Ferrari clasped her hands in gratitude
as she recognised him。
