the haunted hotel-第8节
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'Here has been little Mrs。 Ferrari； my dear； in a dreadful state
of mind； inquiring when you would be back。 Her husband has left
Lord Montbarry； without a word of warningand nobody knows what has
become of him。'
Agnes looked at her in astonishment。 'Are you sure of what you
are saying？' she asked。
The nurse was quite sure。 'Why； Lord bless you！ the news comes
from the couriers' office in Golden Squarefrom the secretary；
Miss Agnes； the secretary himself！' Hearing this； Agnes began to feel
alarmed as well as surprised。 It was still early in the evening。
She at once sent a message to Mrs。 Ferrari； to say that she
had returned。
In an hour more the courier's wife appeared； in a state of agitation
which it was not easy to control。 Her narrative； when she was at last
able to speak connectedly； entirely confirmed the nurse's report of it。
After hearing from her husband with tolerable regularity from Paris；
Rome； and Venice； Emily had twice written to him afterwards
and had received no reply。 Feeling uneasy； she had gone to the office
in Golden Square； to inquire if he had been heard of there。
The post of the morning had brought a letter to the secretary from
a courier then at Venice。 It contained startling news of Ferrari。
His wife had been allowed to take a copy of it； which she now handed to
Agnes to read。
The writer stated that he had recently arrived in Venice。
He had previously heard that Ferrari was with Lord and Lady Montbarry；
at one of the old Venetian palaces which they had hired for a term。
Being a friend of Ferrari； he had gone to pay him a visit。
Ringing at the door that opened on the canal； and failing to make
anyone hear him； he had gone round to a side entrance opening
on one of the narrow lanes of Venice。 Here； standing at the door
（as if she was waiting for him to try that way next）； he found a pale
woman with magnificent dark eyes； who proved to be no other than Lady
Montbarry herself。
She asked； in Italian； what he wanted。 He answered that he wanted
to see the courier Ferrari； if it was quite convenient。
She at once informed him that Ferrari had left the palace；
without assigning any reason； and without even leaving an address at
which his monthly salary （then due to him） could be paid。 Amazed at
this reply； the courier inquired if any person had offended Ferrari；
or quarrelled with him。 The lady answered； 'To my knowledge；
certainly not。 I am Lady Montbarry； and I can positively assure you
that Ferrari was treated with the greatest kindness in this house。
We are as much astonished as you are at his extraordinary disappearance。
If you should hear of him； pray let us know； so that we may at least
pay him the money which is due。'
After one or two more questions （quite readily answered） relating to
the date and the time of day at which Ferrari had left the palace；
the courier took his leave。
He at once entered on the necessary investigationswithout the slightest
result so far as Ferrari was concerned。 Nobody had seen him。
Nobody appeared to have been taken into his confidence。
Nobody knew anything （that is to say； anything of the slightest importance）
even about persons so distinguished as Lord and Lady Montbarry。
It was reported that her ladyship's English maid had left her；
before the disappearance of Ferrari； to return to her relatives in her
own country； and that Lady Montbarry had taken no steps to supply
her place。 His lordship was described as being in delicate health。
He lived in the strictest retirementnobody was admitted to him；
not even his own countrymen。 A stupid old woman was discovered
who did the housework at the palace； arriving in the morning and
going away again at night。 She had never seen the lost courier
she had never even seen Lord Montbarry； who was then confined
to his room。 Her ladyship； 'a most gracious and adorable mistress；'
was in constant attendance on her noble husband。 There was no
other servant then in the house （so far as the old woman knew）
but herself。 The meals were sent in from a restaurant。 My lord；
it was said； disliked strangers。 My lord's brother…in…law； the Baron；
was generally shut up in a remote part of the palace； occupied
（the gracious mistress said） with experiments in chemistry。
The experiments sometimes made a nasty smell。 A doctor had latterly been
called in to his lordshipan Italian doctor； long resident in Venice。
Inquiries being addressed to this gentleman （a physician of undoubted
capacity and respectability）； it turned out that he also had never
seen Ferrari； having been summoned to the palace （as his memorandum
book showed） at a date subsequent to the courier's disappearance。
The doctor described Lord Montbarry's malady as bronchitis。
So far； there was no reason to feel any anxiety； though the
attack was a sharp one。 If alarming symptoms should appear；
he had arranged with her ladyship to call in another physician。
For the rest； it was impossible to speak too highly of my lady；
night and day； she was at her lord's bedside。
With these particulars began and ended the discoveries made by Ferrari's
courier…friend。 The police were on the look…out for the lost man
and that was the only hope which could be held forth for the present；
to Ferrari's wife。
'What do you think of it； Miss？' the poor woman asked eagerly。
'What would you advise me to do？'
Agnes was at a loss how to answer her； it was an effort even to
listen to what Emily was saying。 The references in the courier's
letter to Montbarrythe report of his illness； the melancholy
picture of his secluded lifehad reopened the old wound。
She was not even thinking of the lost Ferrari； her mind was at Venice；
by the sick man's bedside。
'I hardly know what to say；' she answered。 'I have had no experience
in serious matters of this kind。'
'Do you think it would help you； Miss； if you read my husband's
letters to me？ There are only three of themthey won't take long
to read。'
Agnes compassionately read the letters。
They were not written in a very tender tone。 'Dear Emily；'
and 'Yours affectionately'these conventional phrases；
were the only phrases of endearment which they contained。
In the first letter； Lord Montbarry was not very favourably spoken
of：'We leave Paris to…morrow。 I don't much like my lord。
He is proud and cold； and； between ourselves； stingy in money matters。
I have had to dispute such trifles as a few centimes in the hotel bill；
and twice already； some sharp remarks have passed between
the newly…married couple； in consequence of her ladyship's freedom
in purchasing pretty tempting things at the shops in Paris。
〃I can't afford it； you must keep to your allowance。〃 She has had to
hear those words already。 For my part； I like her。 She has the nice；
easy foreign mannersshe talks to me as if I was a human being
like herself。'
The second letter was dated from Rome。
'My lord's caprices' （Ferrari wrote） 'have kept us perpetually
on the move。 He is becoming incurably restless。 I suspect he is
uneasy in his mind。 Painful recollections； I should sayI find him
constantly reading old letters； when her ladyship is not present。
We were to have stopped at Genoa； but he hurried us on。 The same
thing at Florence。 Here； at Rome； my lady insists on resting。
Her brother has met us at this place。 There has been a quarrel already
（the lady's maid tells me） between my lord and the Baron。 The latter
wanted to borrow money of the former。 His lordship refused in language
which offended Baron Rivar。 My lady pacified them； and made them
shake hands。'
The third； and last letter； was from Venice。
'More of my lord's economy！ Instead of staying at the hotel；
we have hired a damp； mouldy； rambling old palace。 My lady insists
on having the best suites of rooms wherever we goand the palace
comes cheaper for a two months' term。 My lord tried to get it
for longer； he says the quiet of Venice is good for his nerves。
But a foreign speculator has secured the palace； and is going to turn
it into an hotel。 The Baron is still with us； and there have been
more disagreements about money matters。 I don't like the Baron
and I don't find the attractions of my lady grow on me。 She was much
nicer before the Baron joined us。 My lord
