the haunted hotel-第3节
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that her noble letter was a skilful piece of hypocrisyin short；
that she secretly hated me； and was cunning enough to hide it。
No！ the lady had been her friend from her girlhood； was as familiar
with her as if they had been sistersknew her positively to be as good；
as innocent； as incapable of hating anybody； as the greatest saint
that ever lived。 My one last hope； that I had only felt an ordinary
forewarning of danger in the presence of an ordinary enemy；
was a hope destroyed for ever。 There was one more effort I could make；
and I made it。 I went next to the man whom I am to marry。
I implored him to release me from my promise。 He refused。
I declared I would break my engagement。 He showed me letters
from his sisters； letters from his brothers； and his dear friends
all entreating him to think again before he made me his wife；
all repeating reports of me in Paris； Vienna； and London；
which are so many vile lies。 〃If you refuse to marry me；〃 he said；
〃you admit that these reports are trueyou admit that you are afraid
to face society in the character of my wife。〃 What could I answer？
There was no contradicting himhe was plainly right： if I persisted
in my refusal； the utter destruction of my reputation would be the result。
I consented to let the wedding take place as we had arranged it
and left him。 The night has passed。 I am here； with my fixed conviction
that innocent woman is ordained to have a fatal influence over my life。
I am here with my one question to put； to the one man who can answer it。
For the last time； sir； what am Ia demon who has seen the avenging
angel？ or only a poor mad woman； misled by the delusion of a deranged
mind？'
Doctor Wybrow rose from his chair； determined to close the interview。
He was strongly and painfully impressed by what he had heard。
The longer he had listened to her； the more irresistibly
the conviction of the woman's wickedness had forced itself on him。
He tried vainly to think of her as a person to be pitieda person
with a morbidly sensitive imagination； conscious of the capacities
for evil which lie dormant in us all； and striving earnestly to open
her heart to the counter…influence of her own better nature； the effort
was beyond him。 A perverse instinct in him said； as if in words；
Beware how you believe in her！
'I have already given you my opinion；' he said。 'There is no sign
of your intellect being deranged； or being likely to be deranged；
that medical science can discoveras I understand it。
As for the impressions you have confided to me； I can only say
that yours is a case （as I venture to think） for spiritual
rather than for medical advice。 Of one thing be assured：
what you have said to me in this room shall not pass out of it。
Your confession is safe in my keeping。'
She heard him； with a certain dogged resignation； to the end。
'Is that all？' she asked。
'That is all；' he answered。
She put a little paper packet of money on the table。
'Thank you； sir。 There is your fee。'
With those words she rose。 Her wild black eyes looked upward；
with an expression of despair so defiant and so horrible in its silent
agony that the Doctor turned away his head； unable to endure the sight
of it。 The bare idea of taking anything from hernot money only；
but anything even that she had touchedsuddenly revolted him。
Still without looking at her； he said； 'Take it back； I don't want
my fee。'
She neither heeded nor heard him。 Still looking upward； she said
slowly to herself； 'Let the end come。 I have done with the struggle：
I submit。'
She drew her veil over her face； bowed to the Doctor； and left
the room。
He rang the bell； and followed her into the hall。 As the servant
closed the door on her； a sudden impulse of curiosity
utterly unworthy of him； and at the same time utterly irresistible
sprang up in the Doctor's mind。 Blushing like a boy； he said
to the servant； 'Follow her home； and find out her name。'
For one moment the man looked at his master； doubting if his own ears
had not deceived him。 Doctor Wybrow looked back at him in silence。
The submissive servant knew what that silence meanthe took his hat
and hurried into the street。
The Doctor went back to the consulting…room。 A sudden revulsion
of feeling swept over his mind。 Had the woman left an infection
of wickedness in the house； and had he caught it？ What devil had
possessed him to degrade himself in the eyes of his own servant？
He had behaved infamouslyhe had asked an honest man； a man who had
served him faithfully for years； to turn spy！ Stung by the bare
thought of it； he ran out into the hall again； and opened the door。
The servant had disappeared； it was too late to call him back。
But one refuge from his contempt for himself was now open to him
the refuge of work。 He got into his carriage and went his rounds among
his patients。
If the famous physician could have shaken his own reputation；
he would have done it that afternoon。 Never before had he made
himself so little welcome at the bedside。 Never before had he put off
until to…morrow the prescription which ought to have been written；
the opinion which ought to have been given； to…day。 He went home
earlier than usualunutterably dissatisfied with himself。
The servant had returned。 Dr。 Wybrow was ashamed to question him。
The man reported the result of his errand； without waiting to
be asked。
'The lady's name is the Countess Narona。 She lives at'
Without waiting to hear where she lived； the Doctor acknowledged
the all…important discovery of her name by a silent bend of the head；
and entered his consulting…room。 The fee that he had vainly refused
still lay in its little white paper covering on the table。
He sealed it up in an envelope； addressed it to the 'Poor…box'
of the nearest police…court； and； calling the servant in；
directed him to take it to the magistrate the next morning。
Faithful to his duties； the servant waited to ask the customary question；
'Do you dine at home to…day； sir？'
After a moment's hesitation he said； 'No： I shall dine at the club。'
The most easily deteriorated of all the moral qualities is
the quality called 'conscience。' In one state of a man's mind；
his conscience is the severest judge that can pass sentence on him。
In another state； he and his conscience are on the best possible
terms with each other in the comfortable capacity of accomplices。
When Doctor Wybrow left his house for the second time； he did
not even attempt to conceal from himself that his sole object；
in dining at the club； was to hear what the world said of the
Countess Narona。
CHAPTER III
There was a time when a man in search of the pleasures of gossip
sought the society of ladies。 The man knows better now。
He goes to the smoking…room of his club。
Doctor Wybrow lit his cigar； and looked round him at his brethren
in social conclave assembled。 The room was well filled；
but the flow of talk was still languid。 The Doctor innocently
applied the stimulant that was wanted。 When he inquired if
anybody knew the Countess Narona； he was answered by something
like a shout of astonishment。 Never （the conclave agreed）
had such an absurd question been asked before！ Every human creature；
with the slightest claim to a place in society； knew the Countess Narona。
An adventuress with a European reputation of the blackest possible colour
such was the general description of the woman with the deathlike
complexion and the glittering eyes。
Descending to particulars； each member of the club contributed
his own little stock of scandal to the memoirs of the Countess。
It was doubtful whether she was really； what she called herself；
a Dalmatian lady。 It was doubtful whether she had ever
been married to the Count whose widow she assumed to be。
It was doubtful whether the man who accompanied her in her travels
（under the name of Baron Rivar； and in the character of her brother）
was her brother at all。 Report pointed to the Baron as a gambler at
every 'table' on the Continent。 Report whispered that his so…called
sister had narrowly escaped being implicated in a famous trial
for poisoning at Viennathat she had been known at Milan as a spy
in the interests of Austr
