the haunted hotel-第44节
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into the fire。 'Let this rubbish be of some use；' he said；
holding the pages down with the poker。 'The room is getting chilly
the Countess's play will set some of these charred logs flaming again。'
He waited a little at the fire…place； and returned to his brother。
'Now； Henry； I have a last word to say； and then I have done。
I am ready to admit that you have stumbled； by an unlucky chance；
on the proof of a crime committed in the old days of the palace；
nobody knows how long ago。 With that one concession； I dispute
everything else。 Rather than agree in the opinion you have formed；
I won't believe anything that has happened。 The supernatural
influences that some of us felt when we first slept in this hotel
your loss of appetite； our sister's dreadful dreams； the smell that
overpowered Francis； and the head that appeared to AgnesI declare them
all to be sheer delusions！ I believe in nothing； nothing； nothing！'
He opened the door to go out； and looked back into the room。
'Yes；' he resumed； 'there is one thing I believe in。 My wife has
committed a breach of confidenceI believe Agnes will marry you。
Good night； Henry。 We leave Venice the first thing to…morrow
morning。
So Lord Montbarry disposed of the mystery of The Haunted Hotel。
POSTSCRIPT
A last chance of deciding the difference of opinion between
the two brothers remained in Henry's possession。 He had his own
idea of the use to which he might put the false teeth as a means
of inquiry when he and Ms fellow…travellers returned to England。
The only surviving depositary of the domestic history of
the family in past years； was Agnes Lockwood's old nurse。
Henry took his first opportunity of trying to revive her personal
recollections of the deceased Lord Montbarry。 But the nurse had never
forgiven the great man of the family for his desertion of Agnes；
she flatly refused to consult her memory。 'Even the bare sight
of my lord； when I last saw him in London；' said the old woman；
'made my finger…nails itch to set their mark on his face。
I was sent on an errand by Miss Agnes； and I met him coming out
of his dentist's doorand； thank God； that's the last I ever saw
of him！'
Thanks to the nurse's quick temper and quaint way of expressing
herself； the object of Henry's inquiries was gained already！
He ventured on asking if she had noticed the situation of the house。
She had noticed； and still remembered the situation
did Master Henry suppose she had lost the use of her senses；
because she happened to be nigh on eighty years old？ The same day；
he took the false teeth to the dentist； and set all further doubt
（if doubt had still been possible） at rest for ever。 The teeth had
been made for the first Lord Montbarry。
Henry never revealed the existence of this last link in the chain
of discovery to any living creature； his brother Stephen included。
He carried his terrible secret with him to the grave。
There was one other event in the memorable past on which he preserved
the same compassionate silence。 Little Mrs。 Ferrari never knew that
her husband had beennot； as she supposed； the Countess's victim
but the Countess's accomplice。 She still believed that the late Lord
Montbarry had sent her the thousand…pound note； and still recoiled
from making use of a present which she persisted in declaring had
'the stain of her husband's blood on it。' Agnes； with the widow's
entire approval； took the money to the Children's Hospital；
and spent it in adding to the number of the beds。
In the spring of the new year； the marriage took place。
At the special request of Agnes； the members of the family were the only
persons present at the ceremony。 There was no wedding breakfast
and the honeymoon was spent in the retirement of a cottage on
the banks of the Thames。
During the last few days of the residence of the newly married
couple by the riverside； Lady Montbarry's children were invited
to enjoy a day's play in the garden。 The eldest girl overheard
（and reported to her mother） a little conjugal dialogue which touched
on the topic of The Haunted Hotel。
'Henry； I want you to give me a kiss。'
'There it is； my dear。'
'Now I am your wife； may I speak to you about something？'
'What is it？'
'Something that happened the day before we left Venice。
You saw the Countess； during the last hours of her life。
Won't you tell me whether she made any confession to you？'
'No conscious confession； Agnesand therefore no confession that I
need distress you by repeating。'
'Did she say nothing about what she saw or heard； on that dreadful
night in my room？'
'Nothing。 We only know that her mind never recovered the terror
of it。'
Agnes was not quite satisfied。 The subject troubled her。
Even her own brief intercourse with her miserable rival
of other days suggested questions that perplexed her。
She remembered the Countess's prediction。 'You have to bring me
to the day of discovery； and to the punishment that is my doom。'
Had the prediction simply faded； like other mortal prophecies？
or had it been fulfilled on the terrible night when she had seen
the apparition； and when she had innocently tempted the Countess
to watch her in her room？
Let it； however； be recorded； among the other virtues of Mrs。 Henry
Westwick； that she never again attempted to persuade her husband
into betraying his secrets。 Other men's wives； hearing of this
extraordinary conduct （and being trained in the modern school of morals
and manners）； naturally regarded her with compassionate contempt。 They
spoke of Agnes； from that time forth； as 'rather an old…fashioned person。'
Is that all？
That is all。
Is there no explanation of the mystery of The Haunted Hotel？
Ask yourself if there is any explanation of the mystery of your own
life and death。Farewell。
End
