the haunted hotel-第23节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
roused all her energies。 She dismissed her own absurd misgivings
from consideration； with the contempt that they deserved。 She worked
as only women can work； when their hearts are in what they do。
The travellers reached Dublin that day； in time for the boat
to England。 Two days later； they were with Lord and Lady Montbarry
at Paris。
THE FOURTH PART
CHAPTER XVI
It was only the twentieth of September； when Agnes and the children
reached Paris。 Mrs。 Norbury and her brother Francis had then already
started on their journey to Italyat least three weeks before the date
at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers。
The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick。
Like his younger brother Henry； he had increased his pecuniary
resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity； with this difference；
that his speculations were connected with the Arts。
He had made money； in the first instance； by a weekly newspaper；
and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre。
This latter enterprise； admirably conducted； had been rewarded
by the public with steady and liberal encouragement。 Pondering over
a new form of theatrical attraction for the coming winter season；
Francis had determined to revive the languid public taste for the ballet
by means of an entertainment of his own invention； combining dramatic
interest with dancing。 He was now； accordingly； in search of the
best dancer （possessed of the indispensable personal attractions）
who was to be found in the theatres of the Continent。
Hearing from his foreign correspondents of two women who had made
successful first appearances； one at Milan and one at Florence；
he had arranged to visit those cities； and to judge of the merits
of the dancers for himself； before he joined the bride and bridegroom。
His widowed sister； having friends at Florence whom she was anxious
to see； readily accompanied him。 The Montbarrys remained at Paris；
until it was time to present themselves at the family meeting in Venice。
Henry found them still in the French capital； when he arrived from London
on his way to the opening of the new hotel。
Against Lady Montbarry's advice； he took the opportunity of
renewing his addresses to Agnes。 He could hardly have chosen
a more unpropitious time for pleading his cause with her。
The gaieties of Paris （quite incomprehensibly to herself as well
as to everyone about her） had a depressing effect on her spirits。
She had no illness to complain of； she shared willingly in the ever…varying
succession of amusements offered to strangers by the ingenuity
of the liveliest people in the worldbut nothing roused her：
she remained persistently dull and weary through it all。
In this frame of mind and body； she was in no humour to receive
Henry's ill…timed addresses with favour； or even with patience：
she plainly and positively refused to listen to him。 'Why do you remind
me of what I have suffered？' she asked petulantly。 'Don't you see
that it has left its mark on me for life？'
'I thought I knew something of women by this time；' Henry said；
appealing privately to Lady Montbarry for consolation。 'But Agnes
completely puzzles me。 It is a year since Montbarry's death； and she
remains as devoted to his memory as if he had died faithful to her
she still feels the loss of him； as none of us feel it！'
'She is the truest woman that ever breathed the breath of life；'
Lady Montbarry answered。 'Remember that； and you will understand her。
Can such a woman as Agnes give her love or refuse it；
according to circumstances？ Because the man was unworthy of her；
was he less the man of her choice？ The truest and best friend to him
（little as he deserved it） in his lifetime； she naturally
remains the truest and best friend to his memory now。
If you really love her； wait； and trust to your two best friends
to time and to me。 There is my advice； let your own experience
decide whether it is not the best advice that I can offer。
Resume your journey to Venice to…morrow； and when you take leave of Agnes；
speak to her as cordially as if nothing had happened。'
Henry wisely followed this advice。 Thoroughly understanding him；
Agnes made the leave…taking friendly and pleasant on her side。
When he stopped at the door for a last look at her； she hurriedly turned
her head so that her face was hidden from him。 Was that a good sign？
Lady Montbarry； accompanying Henry down the stairs； said； 'Yes； decidedly！
Write when you get to Venice。 We shall wait here to receive letters
from Arthur and his wife； and we shall time our departure for
Italy accordingly。'
A week passed； and no letter came from Henry。 Some days later；
a telegram was received from him。 It was despatched from Milan；
instead of from Venice； and it brought this strange message：'I have
left the hotel。 Will return on the arrival of Arthur and his wife。
Address； meanwhile； Albergo Reale； Milan。'
Preferring Venice before all other cities of Europe； and having
arranged to remain there until the family meeting took place；
what unexpected event had led Henry to alter his plans？ and why
did he state the bare fact； without adding a word of explanation？
Let the narrative follow himand find the answer to those questions
at Venice。
CHAPTER XVII
The Palace Hotel； appealing for encouragement mainly to English
and American travellers； celebrated the opening of its doors；
as a matter of course； by the giving of a grand banquet；
and the delivery of a long succession of speeches。
Delayed on his journey； Henry Westwick only reached Venice
in time to join the guests over their coffee and cigars。
Observing the splendour of the reception rooms； and taking
note especially of the artful mixture of comfort and luxury in
the bedchambers； he began to share the old nurse's view of the future；
and to contemplate seriously the coming dividend of ten per cent。
The hotel was beginning well； at all events。 So much interest
in the enterprise had been aroused； at home and abroad；
by profuse advertising； that the whole accommodation of the building
had been secured by travellers of all nations for the opening night。
Henry only obtained one of the small rooms on the upper floor；
by a lucky accidentthe absence of the gentleman who had written
to engage it。 He was quite satisfied； and was on his way to bed；
when another accident altered his prospects for the night； and moved him
into another and a better room。
Ascending on his way to the higher regions as far as the first floor
of the hotel； Henry's attention was attracted by an angry voice protesting；
in a strong New England accent； against one of the greatest
hardships that can be inflicted on a citizen of the United States
the hardship of sending him to bed without gas in his room。
The Americans are not only the most hospitable people to be found
on the face of the earththey are （under certain conditions）
the most patient and good…tempered people as well。 But they are human；
and the limit of American endurance is found in the obsolete institution
of a bedroom candle。 The American traveller； in the present case；
declined to believe that his bedroom was in a complete finished state
without a gas…burner。 The manager pointed to the fine antique decorations
（renewed and regilt） on the walls and the ceiling； and explained
that the emanations of burning gas…light would certainly spoil
them in the course of a few months。 To this the traveller replied
that it was possible； but that he did not understand decorations。
A bedroom with gas in it was what he was used to； was what he wanted；
and was what he was determined to have。 The compliant manager
volunteered to ask some other gentleman； housed on the inferior
upper storey （which was lit throughout with gas）； to change rooms。
Hearing this； and being quite willing to exchange a small bedchamber
for a large one； Henry volunteered to be the other gentleman。
The excellent American shook hands with him on the spot。 'You are
a cultured person； sir；' he said； 'and you will no doubt understand
the decorations。'
Henry looked at the number of the room on the door as he opened it。
The number was Fourt
