the haunted hotel-第5节
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old women； were scattered about the interior of the building。
Here and there Doctor Wybrow detected the faces of some of his
brethren of the club； attracted by curiosity； like himself。
Four persons only stood before the altarthe bride and bridegroom
and their two witnesses。 One of these last was an elderly woman；
who might have been the Countess's companion or maid； the other
was undoubtedly her brother； Baron Rivar。 The bridal party
（the bride herself included） wore their ordinary morning costume。
Lord Montbarry； personally viewed； was a middle…aged military man
of the ordinary type： nothing in the least remarkable distinguished
him either in face or figure。 Baron Rivar； again； in his way was
another conventional representative of another well…known type。
One sees his finely…pointed moustache； his bold eyes；
his crisply…curling hair； and his dashing carriage of the head；
repeated hundreds of times over on the Boulevards of Paris。
The only noteworthy point about him was of the negative sort
he was not in the least like his sister。 Even the officiating
priest was only a harmless； humble…looking old man； who went through
his duties resignedly； and felt visible rheumatic difficulties
every time he bent his knees。 The one remarkable person；
the Countess herself； only raised her veil at the beginning
of the ceremony； and presented nothing in her plain dress that was
worth a second look。 Never； on the face of it； was there a less
interesting and less romantic marriage than this。 From time to time
the Doctor glanced round at the door or up at the galleries；
vaguely anticipating the appearance of some protesting stranger；
in possession of some terrible secret； commissioned to forbid
the progress of the service。 Nothing in the shape of an event occurred
nothing extraordinary； nothing dramatic。 Bound fast together as man
and wife； the two disappeared； followed by their witnesses； to sign
the registers； and still Doctor Wybrow waited； and still he cherished
the obstinate hope that something worth seeing must certainly
happen yet。
The interval passed； and the married couple； returning to the church；
walked together down the nave to the door。 Doctor Wybrow
drew back as they approached。 To his confusion and surprise；
the Countess discovered him。 He heard her say to her husband；
'One moment； I see a friend。' Lord Montbarry bowed and waited。
She stepped up to the Doctor； took his hand； and wrung it hard。
He felt her overpowering black eyes looking at him through
her veil。 'One step more； you see； on the way to the end！'
She whispered those strange words； and returned to her husband。
Before the Doctor could recover himself and follow her；
Lord and Lady Montbarry had stepped into their carriage； and had
driven away。
Outside the church door stood the three or four members of the club who；
like Doctor Wybrow； had watched the ceremony out of curiosity。
Near them was the bride's brother； waiting alone。 He was evidently bent
on seeing the man whom his sister had spoken to； in broad daylight。
His bold eyes rested on the Doctor's face； with a momentary flash
of suspicion in them。 The cloud suddenly cleared away； the Baron
smiled with charming courtesy； lifted his hat to his sister's friend；
and walked off。
The members constituted themselves into a club conclave on the
church steps。 They began with the Baron。 'Damned ill…looking rascal！'
They went on with Montbarry。 'Is he going to take that horrid
woman with him to Ireland？' 'Not he！ he can't face the tenantry；
they know about Agnes Lockwood。' 'Well； but where is he going？'
'To Scotland。' 'Does she like that？' 'It's only for a fortnight；
they come back to London； and go abroad。' 'And they will never return
to England； eh？' 'Who can tell？ Did you see how she looked at Montbarry；
when she had to lift her veil at the beginning of the service？
In his place； I should have bolted。 Did you see her； Doctor？'
By this time； Doctor Wybrow had remembered his patients； and had heard
enough of the club gossip。 He followed the example of Baron Rivar；
and walked off。
'One step more； you see； on the way to the end；' he repeated to himself；
on his way home。 'What end？'
CHAPTER IV
On the day of the marriage Agnes Lockwood sat alone in the little
drawing…room of her London lodgings； burning the letters which had
been written to her by Montbarry in the bygone time。
The Countess's maliciously smart description of her；
addressed to Doctor Wybrow； had not even hinted at the charm
that most distinguished Agnesthe artless expression of goodness
and purity which instantly attracted everyone who approached her。
She looked by many years younger than she really was。 With her fair
complexion and her shy manner； it seemed only natural to speak of her
as 'a girl；' although she was now really advancing towards thirty
years of age。 She lived alone with an old nurse devoted to her；
on a modest little income which was just enough to support the two。
There were none of the ordinary signs of grief in her face；
as she slowly tore the letters of her false lover in two； and threw
the pieces into the small fire which had been lit to consume them。
Unhappily for herself； she was one of those women who feel too deeply
to find relief in tears。 Pale and quiet； with cold trembling fingers；
she destroyed the letters one by one without daring to read them again。
She had torn the last of the series； and was still shrinking
from throwing it after the rest into the swiftly destroying flame；
when the old nurse came in； and asked if she would see 'Master Henry；'
meaning that youngest member of the Westwick family； who had publicly
declared his contempt for his brother in the smoking…room of
the club。
Agnes hesitated。 A faint tinge of colour stole over her face。
There had been a long past time when Henry Westwick had owned
that he loved her。 She had made her confession to him；
acknowledging that her heart was given to his eldest brother。
He had submitted to his disappointment； and they had met
thenceforth as cousins and friends。 Never before had she
associated the idea of him with embarrassing recollections。
But now； on the very day when his brother's marriage to another
woman had consummated his brother's treason towards her； there was
something vaguely repellent in the prospect of seeing him。
The old nurse （who remembered them both in their cradles）
observed her hesitation； and sympathising of course with the man；
put in a timely word for Henry。 'He says； he's going away； my dear；
and he only wants to shake hands； and say good…bye。' This plain
statement of the case had its effect。 Agnes decided on receiving
her cousin。
He entered the room so rapidly that he surprised her in the act
of throwing the fragments of Montbarry's last letter into the fire。
She hurriedly spoke first。
'You are leaving London very suddenly； Henry。 Is it business？
or pleasure？'
Instead of answering her； he pointed to the flaming letter；
and to some black ashes of burnt paper lying lightly in the lower
part of the fireplace。
'Are you burning letters？'
'Yes。'
'His letters？'
'Yes。'
He took her hand gently。 'I had no idea I was intruding on you；
at a time when you must wish to be alone。 Forgive me； AgnesI shall
see you when I return。'
She signed to him； with a faint smile； to take a chair。
'We have known one another since we were children；' she said。
'Why should I feel a foolish pride about myself in your presence？ why
should I have any secrets from you？ I sent back all your brother's
gifts to me some time ago。 I have been advised to do more； to keep
nothing that can remind me of himin short； to burn his letters。
I have taken the advice； but I own I shrank a little from destroying
the last of the letters。 Nonot because it was the last；
but because it had this in it。' She opened her hand； and showed
him a lock of Montbarry's hair； tied with a morsel of golden cord。
'Well！ well！ let it go with the rest。'
She dropped it into the flame。 For a while； she stood with her back
to Henry； leaning on the mantel…piece； and looking into the fire。
He took the chair to which she had pointed； with a strange
contradiction
