the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第30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！
107
… Page 108…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER XIX
Avoiding the crowd under the colonnades； Francis walked slowly up
and down the noble open space of the square； bathed in the light of the
rising moon。
Without being aware of it himself； he was a thorough materialist。 The
strange effect produced on him by the roomfollowing on the other
strange effects produced on the other relatives of his dead brother
exercised no perplexing influence over the mind of this sensible man。
'Perhaps；' he reflected； 'my temperament is more imaginative than I
supposed it to beand this is a trick played on me by my own fancy？ Or；
perhaps； my friend is right； something is physically amiss with me？ I don't
feel ill； certainly。 But that is no safe criterion sometimes。 I am not going
to sleep in that abominable room to…night I can well wait till to…morrow
to decide whether I shall speak to a doctor or not。 In the mean time； the
hotel doesn't seem likely to supply me with the subject of a piece。 A
terrible smell from an invisible ghost is a perfectly new idea。 But it has
one drawback。 If I realise it on the stage； I shall drive the audience out of
the theatre。'
As his strong common sense arrived at this facetious conclusion； he
became aware of a lady； dressed entirely in black； who was observing him
with marked attention。 'Am I right in supposing you to be Mr。 Francis
Westwick？' the lady asked； at the moment when he looked at her。
'That is my name； madam。 May I inquire to whom I have the honour
of speaking？'
'We have only met once；' she answered a little evasively； 'when your
late brother introduced me to the members of his family。 I wonder if you
have quite forgotten my big black eyes and my hideous complexion？' She
lifted her veil as she spoke； and turned so that the moonlight rested on her
face。
Francis recognised at a glance the woman of all others whom he most
cordially dislikedthe widow of his dead brother； the first Lord Montbarry。
108
… Page 109…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
He frowned as he looked at her。 His experience on the stage； gathered at
innumerable rehearsals with actresses who had sorely tried his temper； had
accustomed him to speak roughly to women who were distasteful to him。
'I remember you；' he said。 'I thought you were in America！'
She took no notice of his ungracious tone and manner； she simply
stopped him when he lifted his hat； and turned to leave her。
'Let me walk with you for a few minutes；' she quietly replied。 'I have
something to say to you。'
He showed her his cigar。 'I am smoking；'he said。
'I don't mind smoking。'
After that； there was nothing to be done （short of downright brutality）
but to yield。 He did it with the worst possible grace。 'Well？' he resumed。
'What do you want of me？'
'You shall hear directly； Mr。 Westwick。 Let me first tell you what my
position is。 I am alone in the world。 To the loss of my husband has now
been added another bereavement； the loss of my companion in America；
my brotherBaron Rivar。'
The reputation of the Baron； and the doubt which scandal had thrown
on his assumed relationship to the Countess； were well known to Francis。
'Shot in a gambling…saloon？' he asked brutally。
'The question is a perfectly natural one on your part；' she said； with the
impenetrably ironical manner which she could assume on certain
occasions。 'As a native of horse…racing England； you belong to a nation
of gamblers。 My brother died no extraordinary death； Mr。 Westwick。
He sank； with many other unfortunate people； under a fever prevalent in a
Western city which we happened to visit。 The calamity of his loss made
the United States unendurable to me。 I left by the first steamer that sailed
from New Yorka French vessel which brought me to Havre。 I
continued my lonely journey to the South of France。 And then I went on
to Venice。'
'What does all this matter to me？' Francis thought to himself。 She
paused； evidently expecting him to say something。 'So you have come to
Venice？' he said carelessly。 'Why？'
109
… Page 110…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
'Because I couldn't help it；' she answered。
Francis looked at her with cynical curiosity。 'That sounds odd；' he
remarked。 'Why couldn't you help it？'
'Women are accustomed to act on impulse；' she explained。 'Suppose we
say that an impulse has directed my journey？ And yet； this is the last
place in the world that I wish to find myself in。 Associations that I detest
are connected with it in my mind。 If I had a will of my own； I would never
see it again。 I hate Venice。 As you see； however； I am here。 When did
you meet with such an unreasonable woman before？ Never； I am sure！'
She stopped； eyed him for a moment； and suddenly altered her tone。
'When is Miss Agnes Lockwood expected to be in Venice？' she asked。
It was not easy to throw Francis off his balance； but that extraordinary
question did it。 'How the devil did you know that Miss Lockwood was
coming to Venice？' he exclaimed。
She laugheda bitter mocking laugh。 'Say； I guessed it！'
Something in her tone； or perhaps something in the audacious defiance
of her eyes as they rested on him； roused the quick temper that was in
Francis Warwick。 'Lady Montbarry！' he began。
'Stop there！' she interposed。 'Your brother Stephen's wife calls herself
Lady Montbarry now。 I share my title with no woman。 Call me by my
name before I committed the fatal mistake of marrying your brother。
Address me； if you please； as Countess Narona。'
'Countess Narona；' Francis resumed； 'if your object in claiming my
acquaintance is to mystify me； you have come to the wrong man。 Speak
plainly； or permit me to wish you good evening。'
'If your object is to keep Miss Lockwood's arrival in Venice a secret；'
she retorted； 'speak plainly； Mr。 Westwick； on your side； and say so。'
Her intention was evidently to irritate him； and she succeeded。
'Nonsense！' he broke out petulantly。 'My brother's travelling
arrangements are secrets to nobody。 He brings Miss Lockwood here；
with Lady Montbarry and the children。 As you seem so well informed；
perhaps you know why she is coming to Venice？'
The Countess had suddenly become grave and thoughtful。 She made
110
… Page 111…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
no reply。 The two strangely associated companions； having reached one
extremity of the square； were now standing before the church of St。 Mark。
The moonlight was bright enough to show the architecture of the grand
cathedral in its wonderful variety of detail。 Even the pigeons of St。 Mark
were visible； in dark closely packed rows； roosting in the archways of the
great entrance doors。
'I never saw the old church look so beautiful by moonlight；' the
Countess said quietly； speaking； not to Francis； but to herself。 'Good…bye；
St。 Mark's by moonlight！ I shall not see you again。'
She turned away from the church； and saw Francis listening to her
with wondering looks。 'No；' she resumed； placidly picking up the lost
thread of the conversation； 'I don't know why Miss Lockwood is coming
here； I only know that we are to meet in Venice。'
'By previous appointment？'
'By Destiny；' she answered； with her head on her breast； and her eyes
on the ground。 Francis burst out laughing。 'Or； if you like it better；' she
instantly resumed； 'by what fools call Chance。' Francis answered easily；
out of the depths of his strong common sense。 'Chance seems to be taking
a queer way of bringing the meeting
