the haunted hotel-第34节
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the window； of the friendly presence of Lady Montbarry at the bedside；
and of the children's wondering faces peeping in at the door。
CHAPTER XXIII
'。。。You have some influence over Agnes。 Try what you
can do； Henry； to make her take a sensible view of the matter。
There is really nothing to make a fuss about。 My wife's maid knocked
at her door early in the morning； with the customary cup of tea。
Getting no answer； she went round to the dressing…roomfound the door
on that side unlockedand discovered Agnes on the bed in a fainting fit。
With my wife's help； they brought her to herself again； and she
told the extraordinary story which I have just repeated to you。
You must have seen for yourself that she has been over…fatigued；
poor thing； by our long railway journeys： her nerves are out of order
and she is just the person to be easily terrified by a dream。
She obstinately refuses； however； to accept this rational view。
Don't suppose that I have been severe with her！ All that a man
can do to humour her I have done。 I have written to the Countess
（in her assumed name） offering to restore the room to her。
She writes back； positively declining to return to it。
I have accordingly arranged （so as not to have the thing
known in the hotel） to occupy the room for one or two nights；
and to leave Agnes to recover her spirits under my wife's care。
Is there anything more that I can do？ Whatever questions Agnes has
asked of me I have answered to the best of my ability； she knows
all that you told me about Francis and the Countess last night。
But try as I may I can't quiet her mind。 I have given up the attempt
in despair； and left her in the drawing…room。 Go； like a good fellow；
and try what you can do to compose her。'
In those words； Lord Montbarry stated the case to his brother
from the rational point of view。 Henry made no remark； he went
straight to the drawing…room。
He found Agnes walking rapidly backwards and forwards；
flushed and excited。 'If you come here to say what your brother
has been saying to me；' she broke out； before he could speak；
'spare yourself the trouble。 I don't want common sense
I want a true friend who will believe in me。'
'I am that friend； Agnes；' Henry answered quietly； 'and you know it。'
'You really believe that I am not deluded by a dream？'
I know that you are not deludedin one particular； at least。'
'In what particular？'
'In what you have said of the Countess。 It is perfectly true'
Agnes stopped him there。 'Why do I only hear this morning
that the Countess and Mrs。 James are one and the same person？'
she asked distrustfully。 'Why was I not told of it last night？'
'You forget that you had accepted the exchange of rooms before I
reached Venice；' Henry replied。 'I felt strongly tempted to tell you；
even thenbut your sleeping arrangements for the night were
all made； I should only have inconvenienced and alarmed you。
I waited till the morning； after hearing from my brother that
you had yourself seen to your security from any intrusion。
How that intrusion was accomplished it is impossible to say。
I can only declare that the Countess's presence by your bedside
last night was no dream of yours。 On her own authority I can testify
that it was a reality。'
'On her own authority？' Agnes repeated eagerly。 'Have you seen
her this morning？'
'I have seen her not ten minutes since。'
'What was she doing？'
She was busily engaged in writing。 I could not even get her to look
at me until I thought of mentioning your name。'
'She remembered me； of course？'
'She remembered you with some difficulty。 Finding that she wouldn't answer
me on any other terms； I questioned her as if I had come direct from you。
Then she spoke。 She not only admitted that she had the same superstitious
motive for placing you in that room which she had acknowledged
to Francisshe even owned that she had been by your bedside；
watching through the night； 〃to see what you saw；〃 as she expressed it。
Hearing this； I tried to persuade her to tell me how she got into
the room。 Unluckily； her manuscript on the table caught her eye；
she returned to her writing。 〃The Baron wants money；〃 she said；
〃I must get on with my play。〃 What she saw or dreamed while she was
in your room last night； it is at present impossible to discover。
But judging by my brother's account of her； as well as by what I
remember of her myself； some recent influence has been at work which
has produced a marked change in this wretched woman for the worse。
Her mind （since last night； perhaps） is partially deranged。
One proof of it is that she spoke to me of the Baron as if he were
still a living man。 When Francis saw her； she declared that the Baron
was dead； which is the truth。 The United States Consul at Milan
showed us the announcement of the death in an American newspaper。
So far as I can see； such sense as she still possesses seems to be
entirely absorbed in one absurd ideathe idea of writing a play
for Francis to bring out at his theatre。 He admits that he encouraged
her to hope she might get money in this way。 I think he did wrong。
Don't you agree with me？'
Without heeding the question； Agnes rose abruptly from her chair。
'Do me one more kindness； Henry；' she said。 'Take me to the Countess
at once。'
Henry hesitated。 'Are you composed enough to see her； after the shock
that you have suffered？' he asked。
She trembled； the flush on her face died away； and left it deadly pale。
But she held to her resolution。 'You have heard of what I saw last night？'
she said faintly。
'Don't speak of it！' Henry interposed。 'Don't uselessly
agitate yourself。'
'I must speak！ My mind is full of horrid questions about it。
I know I can't identify itand yet I ask myself over and over again；
in whose likeness did it appear？ Was it in the likeness of Ferrari？
or was it？' she stopped； shuddering。 'The Countess knows； I must
see the Countess！' she resumed vehemently。 'Whether my courage fails
me or not； I must make the attempt。 Take me to her before I have time
to feel afraid of it！'
Henry looked at her anxiously。 'If you are really sure of your
own resolution；' he said； 'I agree with youthe sooner you see
her the better。 You remember how strangely she talked of your
influence over her； when she forced her way into your room in London？'
'I remember it perfectly。 Why do you ask？'
'For this reason。 In the present state of her mind； I doubt if she
will be much longer capable of realizing her wild idea of you as the
avenging angel who is to bring her to a reckoning for her evil deeds。
It may be well to try what your influence can do while she is still
capable of feeling it。'
He waited to hear what Agnes would say。 She took his arm and led
him in silence to the door。
They ascended to the second floor； and； after knocking；
entered the Countess's room。
She was still busily engaged in writing。 When she looked up from
the paper； and saw Agnes； a vacant expression of doubt was the only
expression in her wild black eyes。 After a few moments； the lost
remembrances and associations appeared to return slowly to her mind。
The pen dropped from her hand。 Haggard and trembling； she looked closer
at Agnes； and recognised her at last。 'Has the time come already？'
she said in low awe…struck tones。 'Give me a little longer respite；
I haven't done my writing yet！'
She dropped on her knees； and held out her clasped hands entreatingly。
Agnes was far from having recovered； after the shock that she had
suffered in the night： her nerves were far from being equal to the
strain that was now laid on them。 She was so startled by the change
in the Countess； that she was at a loss what to say or to do next。
Henry was obliged to speak to her。 'Put your questions while you
have the chance；' he said； lowering his voice。 'See！ the vacant look
is coming over her face again。'
Agnes tried to rally her courage。 'You were in my room last night'
she began。 Before she could add a word more； the Countess lifted
her hands； and wrung them above her head with a low moan of horror。
Agnes shrank back
