the haunted hotel-第9节
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and I don't find the attractions of my lady grow on me。 She was much
nicer before the Baron joined us。 My lord is a punctual paymaster；
it's a matter of honour with him； he hates parting with his money；
but he does it because he has given his word。 I receive my salary
regularly at the end of each monthnot a franc extra； though I
have done many things which are not part of a courier's proper work。
Fancy the Baron trying to borrow money of me！ he is an inveterate gambler。
I didn't believe it when my lady's maid first told me so
but I have seen enough since to satisfy me that she was right。
I have seen other things besides； whichwell！ which don't increase
my respect for my lady and the Baron。 The maid says she means to give
warning to leave。 She is a respectable British female； and doesn't
take things quite so easily as I do。 It is a dull life here。
No going into companyno company at homenot a creature sees my lord
not even the consul； or the banker。 When he goes out； he goes alone；
and generally towards nightfall。 Indoors； he shuts himself up
in his own room with his books； and sees as little of his wife and
the Baron as possible。 I fancy things are coming to a crisis here。
If my lord's suspicions are once awakened； the consequences will
be terrible。 Under certain provocations； the noble Montbarry
is a man who would stick at nothing。 However； the pay is good
and I can't afford to talk of leaving the place； like my lady's
maid。'
Agnes handed back the lettersso suggestive of the penalty paid
already for his own infatuation by the man who had deserted her！
with feelings of shame and distress； which made her no fit counsellor
for the helpless woman who depended on her advice。
'The one thing I can suggest；' she said； after first speaking some
kind words of comfort and hope； 'is that we should consult a person
of greater experience than ours。 Suppose I write and ask my lawyer
（who is also my friend and trustee） to come and advise us to…morrow
after his business hours？'
Emily eagerly and gratefully accepted the suggestion。 An hour
was arranged for the meeting on the next day； the correspondence
was left under the care of Agnes； and the courier's wife took her leave。
Weary and heartsick； Agnes lay down on the sofa； to rest and
compose herself。 The careful nurse brought in a reviving cup of tea。
Her quaint gossip about herself and her occupations while Agnes had
been away； acted as a relief to her mistress's overburdened mind。
They were still talking quietly； when they were startled by a loud
knock at the house door。 Hurried footsteps ascended the stairs。
The door of the sitting…room was thrown open violently；
the courier's wife rushed in like a mad woman。 'He's dead！
They've murdered him！' Those wild words were all she could say。
She dropped on her knees at the foot of the sofaheld out her hand
with something clasped in itand fell back in a swoon。
The nurse； signing to Agnes to open the window； took the necessary
measures to restore the fainting woman。 'What's this？' she exclaimed。
'Here's a letter in her hand。 See what it is； Miss。'
The open envelope was addressed （evidently in a feigned hand…writing）
to 'Mrs。 Ferrari。' The post…mark was 'Venice。' The contents of the
envelope were a sheet of foreign note…paper； and a folded enclosure。
On the note…paper； one line only was written。 It was again
in a feigned handwriting； and it contained these words：
'To console you for the loss of your husband'
Agnes opened the enclosure next。
It was a Bank of England note for a thousand pounds。
CHAPTER VI
The next day； the friend and legal adviser of Agnes Lockwood；
Mr。 Troy； called on her by appointment in the evening。
Mrs。 Ferraristill persisting in the conviction of her husband's death
had sufficiently recovered to be present at the consultation。
Assisted by Agnes； she told the lawyer the little that was
known relating to Ferrari's disappearance； and then produced
the correspondence connected with that event。 Mr。 Troy read
（first） the three letters addressed by Ferrari to his wife；
（secondly） the letter written by Ferrari's courier…friend；
describing his visit to the palace and his interview with
Lady Montbarry； and （thirdly） the one line of anonymous writing
which had accompanied the extraordinary gift of a thousand pounds
to Ferrari's wife。
Well known； at a later period； as the lawyer who acted for Lady Lydiard；
in the case of theft； generally described as the case of 'My Lady's Money；'
Mr。 Troy was not only a man of learning and experience in his profession
he was also a man who had seen something of society at home and abroad。
He possessed a keen eye for character； a quaint humour； and a kindly
nature which had not been deteriorated even by a lawyer's professional
experience of mankind。 With all these personal advantages； it is
a question； nevertheless； whether he was the fittest adviser whom
Agnes could have chosen under the circumstances。 Little Mrs。 Ferrari；
with many domestic merits； was an essentially commonplace woman。
Mr。 Troy was the last person living who was likely to attract
her sympathieshe was the exact opposite of a commonplace man。
'She looks very ill； poor thing！' In these words the lawyer
opened the business of the evening； referring to Mrs。 Ferrari
as unceremoniously as if she had been out of the room。
'She has suffered a terrible shock；' Agnes answered。
Mr。 Troy turned to Mrs。 Ferrari； and looked at her again；
with the interest due to the victim of a shock。 He drummed absently
with his fingers on the table。 At last he spoke to her。
'My good lady； you don't really believe that your husband is dead？'
Mrs。 Ferrari put her handkerchief to her eyes。 The word 'dead' was
ineffectual to express her feelings。 'Murdered！' she said sternly；
behind her handkerchief。
'Why？ And by whom？' Mr。 Troy asked。
Mrs。 Ferrari seemed to have some difficulty in answering。
'You have read my husband's letters； sir；' she began。 'I believe
he discovered' She got as far as that； and there she stopped。
'What did he discover？'
There are limits to human patienceeven the patience of a bereaved wife。
This cool question irritated Mrs。 Ferrari into expressing herself
plainly at last。
'He discovered Lady Montbarry and the Baron！' she answered；
with a burst of hysterical vehemence。 'The Baron is no more
that vile woman's brother than I am。 The wickedness of those two
wretches came to my poor dear husband's knowledge。 The lady's maid
left her place on account of it。 If Ferrari had gone away too；
he would have been alive at this moment。 They have killed him。
I say they have killed him； to prevent it from getting to Lord
Montbarry's ears。' So； in short sharp sentences； and in louder
and louder accents； Mrs。 Ferrari stated her opinion of the case。
Still keeping his own view in reserve； Mr。 Troy listened
with an expression of satirical approval。
'Very strongly stated； Mrs。 Ferrari；' he said。 'You build up your
sentences well； you clinch your conclusions in a workmanlike manner。
If you had been a man； you would have made a good lawyer
you would have taken juries by the scruff of their necks。
Complete the case； my good ladycomplete the case。
Tell us next who sent you this letter； enclosing the bank…note。
The 〃two wretches〃 who murdered Mr。 Ferrari would hardly put
their hands in their pockets and send you a thousand pounds。
Who is iteh？ I see the post…mark on the letter is 〃Venice。〃
Have you any friend in that interesting city； with a large heart；
and a purse to correspond； who has been let into the secret and who wishes
to console you anonymously？'
It was not easy to reply to this。 Mrs。 Ferrari began to feel
the first inward approaches of something like hatred towards Mr。 Troy。
'I don't understand you； sir；' she answered。 'I don't think this is
a joking matter。'
Agnes interfered； for the first time。 She drew her chair a little
nearer to her legal counsellor and friend。
'What is the most probable explanation； in your opinion？'
she asked。
'I shall offend Mrs。 Ferrari if I tell you；' Mr。 Troy answered。
'No； sir； you won'
