the haunted hotel-第35节
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her hands； and wrung them above her head with a low moan of horror。
Agnes shrank back； and turned as if to leave the room。 Henry stopped her；
and whispered to her to try again。 She obeyed him after an effort。
'I slept last night in the room that you gave up to me；' she resumed。
'I saw'
The Countess suddenly rose to her feet。 'No more of that；' she cried。
'Oh； Jesu Maria！ do you think I want to be told what you saw？
Do you think I don't know what it means for you and for me？
Decide for yourself； Miss。 Examine your own mind。 Are you well
assured that the day of reckoning has come at last？ Are you ready
to follow me back； through the crimes of the past； to the secrets of
the dead？'
She returned again to the writing…table； without waiting to be answered。
Her eyes flashed； she looked like her old self once more as she spoke。
It was only for a moment。 The old ardour and impetuosity were
nearly worn out。 Her head sank； she sighed heavily as she unlocked
a desk which stood on the table。 Opening a drawer in the desk；
she took out a leaf of vellum； covered with faded writing。
Some ragged ends of silken thread were still attached to the leaf；
as if it had been torn out of a book。
'Can you read Italian？' she asked； handing the leaf to Agnes。
Agnes answered silently by an inclination of her head。
'The leaf；' the Countess proceeded； 'once belonged to a book in the old
library of the palace； while this building was still a palace。
By whom it was torn out you have no need to know。 For what purpose
it was torn out you may discover for yourself； if you will。
Read it firstat the fifth line from the top of the page。'
Agnes felt the serious necessity of composing herself。
'Give me a chair；' she said to Henry； 'and I will do my best。'
He placed himself behind her chair so that he could look over her
shoulder and help her to understand the writing on the leaf。
Rendered into English； it ran as follows：
I have now completed my literary survey of the first
floor of the palace。 At the desire of my noble and gracious patron；
the lord of this glorious edifice； I next ascend to the second floor；
and continue my catalogue or description of the pictures；
decorations； and other treasures of art therein contained。
Let me begin with the corner room at the western extremity of the palace；
called the Room of the Caryatides； from the statues which support
the mantel…piece。 This work is of comparatively recent execution：
it dates from the eighteenth century only； and reveals the corrupt
taste of the period in every part of it。 Still； there is a certain
interest which attaches to the mantel…piece： it conceals a cleverly
constructed hiding…place； between the floor of the room and the ceiling
of the room beneath； which was made during the last evil days
of the Inquisition in Venice； and which is reported to have saved
an ancestor of my gracious lord pursued by that terrible tribunal。
The machinery of this curious place of concealment has been kept
in good order by the present lord； as a species of curiosity。
He condescended to show me the method of working it。
Approaching the two Caryatides； rest your hand on the forehead
（midway between the eyebrows） of the figure which is on your left
as you stand opposite to the fireplace； then press the head inwards
as if you were pushing it against the wall behind。 By doing this；
you set in motion the hidden machinery in the wall which turns
the hearthstone on a pivot； and discloses the hollow place below。
There is room enough in it for a man to lie easily at full length。
The method of closing the cavity again is equally simple。 Place both
your hands on the temples of the figures； pull as if you were pulling
it towards youand the hearthstone will revolve into its proper
position again。
'You need read no farther；' said the Countess。 'Be careful
to remember what you have read。'
She put back the page of vellum in her writing…desk； locked it；
and led the way to the door。
'Come！' she said； 'and see what the mocking Frenchman called 〃The
beginning of the end。〃 '
Agnes was barely able to rise from her chair； she trembled from head
to foot。 Henry gave her his arm to support her。 'Fear nothing；'
he whispered； 'I shall be with you。'
The Countess proceeded along the westward corridor； and stopped
at the door numbered Thirty…eight。 This was the room which had
been inhabited by Baron Rivar in the old days of the palace：
it was situated immediately over the bedchamber in which Agnes had
passed the night。 For the last two days the room had been empty。
The absence of luggage in it； when they opened the door； showed that it
had not yet been let。
'You see？' said the Countess； pointing to the carved figure at
the fire…place； 'and you know what to do。 Have I deserved that you
should temper justice with mercy？' she went on in lower tones。
'Give me a few hours more to myself。 The Baron wants money
I must get on with my play。'
She smiled vacantly； and imitated the action of writing with her right
hand as she pronounced the last words。 The effort of concentrating
her weakened mind on other and less familiar topics than the constant
want of money in the Baron's lifetime； and the vague prospect
of gain from the still unfinished play； had evidently exhausted
her poor reserves of strength。 When her request had been granted；
she addressed no expressions of gratitude to Agnes； she only said；
'Feel no fear； miss； of my attempting to escape you。 Where you are；
there I must be till the end comes。'
Her eyes wandered round the room with a last weary and stupefied look。
She returned to her writing with slow and feeble steps； like the steps
of an old woman。
CHAPTER XXIV
Henry and Agnes were left alone in the Room of the Caryatides。
The person who had written the description of the palace
probably a poor author or artisthad correctly pointed out
the defects of the mantel…piece。 Bad taste； exhibiting itself
on the most costly and splendid scale； was visible in every part
of the work。 It was nevertheless greatly admired by ignorant
travellers of all classes； partly on account of its imposing size；
and partly on account of the number of variously…coloured marbles
which the sculptor had contrived to introduce into his design。
Photographs of the mantel…piece were exhibited in the public rooms；
and found a ready sale among English and American visitors to
the hotel。
Henry led Agnes to the figure on the left； as they stood facing the empty
fire…place。 'Shall I try the experiment；' he asked； 'or will you？'
She abruptly drew her arm away from him； and turned back to the door。
'I can't even look at it；' she said。 'That merciless marble face
frightens me！'
Henry put his hand on the forehead of the figure。 'What is there
to alarm you； my dear； in this conventionally classical face？'
he asked jestingly。 Before he could press the head inwards；
Agnes hurriedly opened the door。 'Wait till I am out of the room！'
she cried。 'The bare idea of what you may find there horrifies me！'
She looked back into the room as she crossed the threshold。
'I won't leave you altogether；' she said； 'I will wait outside。'
She closed the door。 Left by himself； Henry lifted his hand once
more to the marble forehead of the figure。
For the second time； he was checked on the point of setting
the machinery of the hiding…place in motion。 On this occasion；
the interruption came from an outbreak of friendly voices
in the corridor。 A woman's voice exclaimed； 'Dearest Agnes；
how glad I am to see you again！' A man's voice followed；
offering to introduce some friend to 'Miss Lockwood。' A third voice
（which Henry recognised as the voice of the manager of the hotel）
became audible next； directing the housekeeper to show the ladies
and gentlemen the vacant apartments at the other end of the corridor。
'If more accommodation is wanted；' the manager went on； 'I have a
charming room to let here。' He opened the door as he spoke； and found
himself face to face with Henry Westwick。
'This is indeed an agreeable surprise； sir！' said the manager cheerfully。
'You are admiring our famous chimney…piece； I see。 May I ask；
Mr。 Westwick； how you find your
