the haunted hotel-第24节
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Henry looked at the number of the room on the door as he opened it。
The number was Fourteen。
Tired and sleepy； he naturally anticipated a good night's rest。
In the thoroughly healthy state of his nervous system； he slept
as well in a bed abroad as in a bed at home。 Without the slightest
assignable reason； however； his just expectations were disappointed。
The luxurious bed； the well…ventilated room； the delicious tranquillity
of Venice by night； all were in favour of his sleeping well。
He never slept at all。 An indescribable sense of depression and
discomfort kept him waking through darkness and daylight alike。
He went down to the coffee…room as soon as the hotel was astir；
and ordered some breakfast。 Another unaccountable change
in himself appeared with the appearance of the meal。 He was
absolutely without appetite。 An excellent omelette； and cutlets
cooked to perfection； he sent away untastedhe； whose appetite
never failed him； whose digestion was still equal to any demands
on it！
The day was bright and fine。 He sent for a gondola； and was rowed
to the Lido。
Out on the airy Lagoon； he felt like a new man。 He had not left
the hotel ten minutes before he was fast asleep in the gondola。
Waking； on reaching the landing…place； he crossed the Lido；
and enjoyed a morning's swim in the Adriatic。 There was only a poor
restaurant on the island； in those days； but his appetite was now ready
for anything； he ate whatever was offered to him； like a famished man。
He could hardly believe； when he reflected on it； that he had sent
away untasted his excellent breakfast at the hotel。
Returning to Venice； he spent the rest of the day in the picture…galleries
and the churches。 Towards six o'clock his gondola took him back；
with another fine appetite； to meet some travelling acquaintances
with whom he had engaged to dine at the table d'hote。
The dinner was deservedly rewarded with the highest approval by every
guest in the hotel but one。 To Henry's astonishment； the appetite
with which he had entered the house mysteriously and completely left
him when he sat down to table。 He could drink some wine； but he could
literally eat nothing。 'What in the world is the matter with you？'
his travelling acquaintances asked。 He could honestly answer；
'I know no more than you do。'
When night came； he gave his comfortable and beautiful bedroom
another trial。 The result of the second experiment was a repetition
of the result of the first。 Again he felt the all…pervading sense
of depression and discomfort。 Again he passed a sleepless night。
And once more； when he tried to eat his breakfast； his appetite
completely failed him！
This personal experience of the new hotel was too extraordinary
to be passed over in silence。 Henry mentioned it to his friends
in the public room； in the hearing of the manager。 The manager；
naturally zealous in defence of the hotel； was a little hurt at the
implied reflection cast on Number Fourteen。 He invited the travellers
present to judge for themselves whether Mr。 Westwick's bedroom
was to blame for Mr。 Westwick's sleepless nights； and he especially
appealed to a grey…headed gentleman； a guest at the breakfast…table
of an English traveller； to take the lead in the investigation。
'This is Doctor Bruno； our first physician in Venice；' he explained。
'I appeal to him to say if there are any unhealthy influences in
Mr。 Westwick's room。'
Introduced to Number Fourteen； the doctor looked round him with a certain
appearance of interest which was noticed by everyone present。 'The last
time I was in this room；' he said； 'was on a melancholy occasion。
It was before the palace was changed into an hotel。 I was in
professional attendance on an English nobleman who died here。'
One of the persons present inquired the name of the nobleman。
Doctor Bruno answered （without the slightest suspicion that he was
speaking before a brother of the dead man）； 'Lord Montbarry。'
Henry quietly left the room； without saying a word to anybody。
He was not； in any sense of the term； a superstitious man。 But he felt；
nevertheless； an insurmountable reluctance to remaining in the hotel。
He decided on leaving Venice。 To ask for another room would be；
as he could plainly see； an offence in the eyes of the manager。
To remove to another hotel； would be to openly abandon an
establishment in the success of which he had a pecuniary interest。
Leaving a note for Arthur Barville； on his arrival in Venice；
in which he merely mentioned that he had gone to look at the
Italian lakes； and that a line addressed to his hotel at Milan
would bring him back again； he took the afternoon train to Padua
and dined with his usual appetite； and slept as well as ever
that night。
The next day； a gentleman and his wife （perfect strangers
to the Montbarry family）； returning to England by way of Venice；
arrived at the hotel and occupied Number Fourteen。
Still mindful of the slur that had been cast on one of his
best bedchambers； the manager took occasion to ask the travellers
the next morning how they liked their room。 They left him to judge
for himself how well they were satisfied； by remaining a day longer
in Venice than they had originally planned to do； solely for
the purpose of enjoying the excellent accommodation offered to them
by the new hotel。 'We have met with nothing like it in Italy；'
they said； 'you may rely on our recommending you to all our friends。'
On the day when Number Fourteen was again vacant； an English lady
travelling alone with her maid arrived at the hotel； saw the room；
and at once engaged it。
The lady was Mrs。 Norbury。 She had left Francis Westwick at Milan；
occupied in negotiating for the appearance at his theatre of
the new dancer at the Scala。 Not having heard to the contrary；
Mrs。 Norbury supposed that Arthur Barville and his wife had already
arrived at Venice。 She was more interested in meeting the young
married couple than in awaiting the result of the hard bargaining
which delayed the engagement of the new dancer； and she volunteered
to make her brother's apologies； if his theatrical business caused
him to be late in keeping his appointment at the honeymoon festival。
Mrs。 Norbury's experience of Number Fourteen differed entirely
from her brother Henry's experience of the room。
Failing asleep as readily as usual； her repose was disturbed
by a succession of frightful dreams； the central figure in every
one of them being the figure of her dead brother； the first
Lord Montbarry。 She saw him starving in a loathsome prison；
she saw him pursued by assassins； and dying under their knives；
she saw him drowning in immeasurable depths of dark water； she saw him
in a bed on fire； burning to death in the flames； she saw him tempted
by a shadowy creature to drink； and dying of the poisonous draught。
The reiterated horror of these dreams had such an effect on her that she
rose with the dawn of day； afraid to trust herself again in bed。
In the old times； she had been noted in the family as the one
member of it who lived on affectionate terms with Montbarry。
His other sister and his brothers were constantly quarrelling with him。
Even his mother owned that her eldest son was of all her children
the child whom she least liked。 Sensible and resolute woman
as she was； Mrs。 Norbury shuddered with terror as she sat at
the window of her room； watching the sunrise； and thinking of
her dreams。
She made the first excuse that occurred to her； when her maid
came in at the usual hour； and noticed how ill she looked。
The woman was of so superstitious a temperament that it would have
been in the last degree indiscreet to trust her with the truth。
Mrs。 Norbury merely remarked that she had not found the bed
quite to her liking； on account of the large size of it。
She was accustomed at home； as her maid knew； to sleep in a small bed。
Informed of this objection later in the day； the manager regretted
that he could only offer to the lady the choice of one other bedchamber；
numbered Thirty…eight； and situated immediately over the bedchamber
which she desired to leave。 Mrs。 Norbury accepted the proposed change
of quarters。 She was now about to pass her second night in the room
occupied in the old days of the palace by Baron Rivar。
