the haunted hotel-第25节
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occupied in the old days of the palace by Baron Rivar。
Once more； she fell asleep as usual。 And； once more； the frightful
dreams of the first night terrified her； following each other
in the same succession。 This time her nerves； already shaken；
were not equal to the renewed torture of terror inflicted on them。
She threw on her dressing…gown； and rushed out of her room
in the middle of the night。 The porter； alarmed by the banging
of the door； met her hurrying headlong down the stairs； in search
of the first human being she could find to keep her company。
Considerably surprised at this last new manifestation of the famous
'English eccentricity；' the man looked at the hotel register；
and led the lady upstairs again to the room occupied by her maid。
The maid was not asleep； and； more wonderful still； was not
even undressed。 She received her mistress quietly。 When they
were alone； and when Mrs。 Norbury had； as a matter of necessity；
taken her attendant into her confidence； the woman made a very
strange reply。
'I have been asking about the hotel； at the servants'
supper to…night；' she said。 'The valet of one of the gentlemen
staying here has heard that the late Lord Montbarry was the last
person who lived in the palace； before it was made into an hotel。
The room he died in； ma'am； was the room you slept in last night。
Your room tonight is the room just above it。 I said nothing for fear
of frightening you。 For my own part； I have passed the night as
you see； keeping my light on； and reading my Bible。 In my opinion；
no member of your family can hope to be happy or comfortable in
this house。'
'What do you mean？'
'Please to let me explain myself； ma'am。 When Mr。 Henry
Westwick was here （I have this from the valet； too） he occupied
the room his brother died in （without knowing it）； like you。
For two nights he never closed his eyes。 Without any reason for it
（the valet heard him tell the gentlemen in the coffee…room）
he could not sleep； he felt so low and so wretched in himself。
And what is more； when daytime came； he couldn't even eat while he was
under this roof You may laugh at me； ma'ambut even a servant
may draw her own conclusions。 It's my conclusion that something
happened to my lord； which we none of us know about； when he died
in this house。 His ghost walks in torment until he can tell it
and the living persons related to him are the persons who feel
he is near them。 Those persons may yet see him in the time to come。
Don't； pray don't stay any longer in this dreadful place！ I wouldn't
stay another night here myselfno； not for anything that could be
offered me！'
Mrs。 Norbury at once set her servant's mind at ease on this last point。
'I don't think about it as you do；' she said gravely。
'But I should like to speak to my brother of what has happened。
We will go back to Milan。'
Some hours necessarily elapsed before they could leave the hotel；
by the first train in the forenoon。
In that interval； Mrs。 Norbury's maid found an opportunity of
confidentially informing the valet of what had passed between her
mistress and herself。 The valet had other friends to whom he related
the circumstances in his turn。 In due course of time； the narrative；
passing from mouth to mouth； reached the ears of the manager。
He instantly saw that the credit of the hotel was in danger；
unless something was done to retrieve the character of the room
numbered Fourteen。 English travellers； well acquainted with the peerage
of their native country； informed him that Henry Westwick and
Mrs。 Norbury were by no means the only members of the Montbarry family。
Curiosity might bring more of them to the hotel； after hearing
what had happened。 The manager's ingenuity easily hit on the obvious
means of misleading them； in this case。 The numbers of all the rooms
were enamelled in blue； on white china plates； screwed to the doors。
He ordered a new plate to be prepared； bearing the number； '13 A'；
and he kept the room empty； after its tenant for the time being had
gone away； until the plate was ready。 He then re…numbered the room；
placing the removed Number Fourteen on the door of his own room
（on the second floor）； which； not being to let； had not previously been
numbered at all。 By this device； Number Fourteen disappeared at once
and for ever from the books of the hotel； as the number of a bedroom
to let。
Having warned the servants to beware of gossiping with travellers；
on the subject of the changed numbers； under penalty of being dismissed；
the manager composed his mind with the reflection that he had done his
duty to his employers。 'Now；' he thought to himself； with an excusable
sense of triumph； 'let the whole family come here if they like！
The hotel is a match for them。'
CHAPTER XVIII
Before the end of the week； the manager found himself in relations
with 'the family' once more。 A telegram from Milan announced
that Mr。 Francis Westwick would arrive in Venice on the next day；
and would be obliged if Number Fourteen； on the first floor；
could be reserved for him； in the event of its being vacant at
the time。
The manager paused to consider； before he issued his directions。
The re…numbered room had been last let to a French gentleman。
It would be occupied on the day of Mr。 Francis Westwick's arrival；
but it would be empty again on the day after。 Would it be well to
reserve the room for the special occupation of Mr。 Francis？ and when
he had passed the night unsuspiciously and comfortably in 'No。 13 A；'
to ask him in the presence of witnesses how he liked his bedchamber？
In this case； if the reputation of the room happened to be called
in question again； the answer would vindicate it； on the evidence
of a member of the very family which had first given Number Fourteen
a bad name。 After a little reflection； the manager decided
on trying the experiment； and directed that '13 A' should be
reserved accordingly。
On the next day； Francis Westwick arrived in excellent spirits。
He had signed agreements with the most popular dancer in Italy；
he had transferred the charge of Mrs。 Norbury to his brother Henry；
who had joined him in Milan； and he was now at full liberty to amuse
himself by testing in every possible way the extraordinary influence
exercised over his relatives by the new hotel。 When his brother
and sister first told him what their experience had been； he instantly
declared that he would go to Venice in the interest of his theatre。
The circumstances related to him contained invaluable hints
for a ghost…drama。 The title occurred to him in the railway：
'The Haunted Hotel。' Post that in red letters six feet high； on a
black ground； all over Londonand trust the excitable public to crowd
into the theatre！
Received with the politest attention by the manager； Francis met
with a disappointment on entering the hotel。 'Some mistake； sir。
No such room on the first floor as Number Fourteen。 The room bearing
that number is on the second floor； and has been occupied by me；
from the day when the hotel opened。 Perhaps you meant number 13 A；
on the first floor？ It will be at your service to…morrow
a charming room。 In the mean time； we will do the best we can
for you； to…night。'
A man who is the successful manager of a theatre is probably
the last man in the civilized universe who is capable of being
impressed with favourable opinions of his fellow…creatures。
Francis privately set the manager down as a humbug； and the story
about the numbering of the rooms as a lie。
On the day of his arrival； he dined by himself in the restaurant；
before the hour of the table d'hote； for the express purpose of questioning
the waiter； without being overheard by anybody。 The answer led him
to the conclusion that '13 A' occupied the situation in the hotel which
had been described by his brother and sister as the situation of '14。'
He asked next for the Visitors' List； and found that the French gentleman
who then occupied '13 A；' was the proprietor of a theatre in Paris；
personally well known to him。 Was the gentleman then in the hotel？
He had gone out； but would certainly return for the table d'hote。
When the public dinner was over； Francis entered the room； and was
