the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第13节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the 10th； the term for which the late Lord Montbarry had hired the
Venetian palace； expired。 News by telegram reached the insurance
offices that Lady Montbarry had been advised by her lawyers to leave for
London with as little delay as possible。 Baron Rivar； it was believed；
would accompany her to England； but would not remain in that country；
unless his services were absolutely required by her ladyship。 The Baron；
'well known as an enthusiastic student of chemistry；' had heard of certain
recent discoveries in connection with that science in the United States； and
was anxious to investigate them personally。
44
… Page 45…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
These items of news； collected by Mr。 Troy； were duly communicated
to Mrs。 Ferrari； whose anxiety about her husband made her a frequent； a
too frequent； visitor at the lawyer's office。 She attempted to relate what
she had heard to her good friend and protectress。 Agnes steadily refused to
listen； and positively forbade any further conversation relating to Lord
Montbarry's wife； now that Lord Montbarry was no more。 'You have Mr。
Troy to advise you；' she said； 'and you are welcome to what little money I
can spare； if money is wanted。 All I ask in return is that you will not
distress me。 I am trying to separate myself from remembrances'her voice
faltered； she paused to control herself'from remembrances；' she resumed；
'which are sadder than ever since I have heard of Lord Montbarry's death。
Help me by your silence to recover my spirits； if I can。 Let me hear
nothing more； until I can rejoice with you that your husband is found。'
Time advanced to the 13th of the month； and more information of the
interesting sort reached Mr。 Troy。 The labours of the insurance
commission had come to an endthe report had been received from
Venice on that day。
45
… Page 46…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER VIII
On the 14th the Directors and their legal advisers met for the reading
of the report； with closed doors。 These were the terms in which the
Commissioners related the results of their inquiry： 'Private and
confidential。
'We have the honour to inform our Directors that we arrived in Venice
on December 6； 1860。 On the same day we proceeded to the palace
inhabited by Lord Montbarry at the time of his last illness and death。
'We were received with all possible courtesy by Lady Montbarry's
brother； Baron Rivar。 〃My sister was her husband's only attendant
throughout his illness；〃 the Baron informed us。 〃She is overwhelmed by
grief and fatigueor she would have been here to receive you personally。
What are your wishes； gentlemen？ and what can I do for you in her
ladyship's place？〃
'In accordance with our instructions； we answered that the death and
burial of Lord Montbarry abroad made it desirable to obtain more
complete information relating to his illness； and to the circumstances
which had attended it； than could be conveyed in writing。 We explained
that the law provided for the lapse of a certain interval of time before the
payment of the sum assured； and we expressed our wish to conduct the
inquiry with the most respectful consideration for her ladyship's feelings；
and for the convenience of any other members of the family inhabiting the
house。
'To this the Baron replied； 〃I am the only member of the family living
here； and I and the palace are entirely at your disposal。〃 From first to last
we found this gentleman perfectly straighforward； and most amiably
willing to assist us。
'With the one exception of her ladyship's room； we went over the
whole of the palace the same day。 It is an immense place only partially
furnished。 The first floor and part of the second floor were the portions
of it that had been inhabited by Lord Montbarry and the members of the
46
… Page 47…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
household。 We saw the bedchamber； at one extremity of the palace； in
which his lordship died； and the small room communicating with it； which
he used as a study。 Next to this was a large apartment or hall； the doors of
which he habitually kept locked； his object being （as we were informed） to
pursue his studies uninterruptedly in perfect solitude。 On the other side of
the large hall were the bedchamber occupied by her ladyship； and the
dressing…room in which the maid slept previous to her departure for
England。 Beyond these were the dining and reception rooms； opening
into an antechamber； which gave access to the grand staircase of the
palace。
'The only inhabited rooms on the second floor were the sitting…room
and bedroom occupied by Baron Rivar； and another room at some distance
from it； which had been the bedroom of the courier Ferrari。
'The rooms on the third floor and on the basement were completely
unfurnished； and in a condition of great neglect。 We inquired if there was
anything to be seen below the basement and we were at once informed
that there were vaults beneath； which we were at perfect liberty to visit。
'We went down； so as to leave no part of the palace unexplored。 The
vaults were； it was believed； used as dungeons in the old times say； some
centuries since。 Air and light were only partially admitted to these
dismal places by two long shafts of winding construction； which
communicated with the back yard of the palace； and the openings of which；
high above the ground； were protected by iron gratings。 The stone stairs
leading down into the vaults could be closed at will by a heavy trap…door
in the back hall； which we found open。 The Baron himself led the way
down the stairs。 We remarked that it might be awkward if that trap…door
fell down and closed the opening behind us。 The Baron smiled at the idea。
〃Don't be alarmed； gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃the door is safe。 I had an
interest in seeing to it myself； when we first inhabited the palace。 My
favourite study is the study of experimental chemistryand my workshop；
since we have been in Venice； is down here。〃
'These last words explained a curious smell in the vaults； which we
noticed the moment we entered them。 We can only describe the smell by
47
… Page 48…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
saying that it was of a twofold sortfaintly aromatic； as it were； in its first
effect； but with some after…odour very sickening in our nostrils。 The
Baron's furnaces and retorts； and other things； were all there to speak for
themselves； together with some packages of chemicals； having the name
and address of the person who had supplied them plainly visible on their
labels。 〃Not a pleasant place for study；〃 Baron Rivar observed； 〃but my
sister is timid。 She has a horror of chemical smells and explosions and
she has banished me to these lower regions； so that my experiments may
neither be smelt nor heard。〃 He held out his hands； on which we had
noticed that he wore gloves in the house。 〃Accidents will happen
sometimes；〃 he said； 〃no matter how careful a man may be。 I burnt my
hands severely in trying a new combination the other day； and they are
only recovering now。〃
'We mention these otherwise unimportant incidents； in order to show
that our exploration of the palace was not impeded by any attempt at
concealment。 We were even admitted to her ladyship's own room on a
subsequent occasion； when she went out to take the air。 Our instructions
recommended us to examine his lordship's residence； because the extreme
privacy of his life at Venice； and the re
