the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第32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！
114
… Page 115…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
am filled with presentiments which make this wicked life of mine one long
terror to me。 It doesn't matter； just now； what they are。 Enough that they
absolutely govern methey drive me over land and sea at their own
horrible will； they are in me； and torturing me； at this moment！ Why
don't I resist them？ Ha！ but I do resist them。 I am trying （with the help of
the good punch） to resist them now。 At intervals I cultivate the difficult
virtue of common sense。 Sometimes； sound sense makes a hopeful woman
of me。 At one time； I had the hope that what seemed reality to me was
only mad delusion； after allI even asked the question of an English
doctor！ At other times； other sensible doubts of myself beset me。 Never
mind dwelling on them nowit always ends in the old terrors and
superstitions taking possession of me again。 In a week's time； I shall
know whether Destiny does indeed decide my future for me； or whether I
decide it for myself。 In the last case； my resolution is to absorb this self…
tormenting fancy of mine in the occupation that I have told you of already。
Do you understand me a little better now？ And； our business being
settled； dear Mr。 Westwick； shall we get out of this hot room into the nice
cool air again？'
They rose to leave the cafe。 Francis privately concluded that the
maraschino punch offered the only discoverable explanation of what the
Countess had said to him。
115
… Page 116…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER XX
'Shall I see you again？' she asked； as she held out her hand to take
leave。 'It is quite understood between us； I suppose； about the play？'
Francis recalled his extraordinary experience of that evening in the re…
numbered room。 'My stay in Venice is uncertain；' he replied。 'If you have
anything more to say about this dramatic venture of yours； it may be as
well to say it now。 Have you decided on a subject already？ I know the
public taste in England better than you doI might save you some waste
of time and trouble； if you have not chosen your subject wisely。'
'I don't care what subject I write about； so long as I write；' she
answered carelessly。 'If you have got a subject in your head； give it to me。
I answer for the characters and the dialogue。'
'You answer for the characters and the dialogue；' Francis repeated。
'That's a bold way of speaking for a beginner！ I wonder if I should shake
your sublime confidence in yourself； if I suggested the most ticklish
subject to handle which is known to the stage？ What do you say； Countess；
to entering the lists with Shakespeare； and trying a drama with a ghost in it？
A true story； mind！ founded on events in this very city in which you and I
are interested。'
She caught him by the arm； and drew him away from the crowded
colonnade into the solitary middle space of the square。 'Now tell me！' she
said eagerly。 'Here； where nobody is near us。 How am I interested in it？
How？ how？'
Still holding his arm； she shook him in her impatience to hear the
coming disclosure。 For a moment he hesitated。 Thus far； amused by
her ignorant belief in herself； he had merely spoken in jest。 Now； for the
first time； impressed by her irresistible earnestness； he began to consider
what he was about from a more serious point of view。 With her knowledge
of all that had passed in the old palace； before its transformation into an
hotel； it was surely possible that she might suggest some explanation of
what had happened to his brother； and sister； and himself。 Or； failing to
116
… Page 117…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
do this； she might accidentally reveal some event in her own experience
which； acting as a hint to a competent dramatist； might prove to be the
making of a play。 The prosperity of his theatre was his one serious object
in life。 'I may be on the trace of another 〃Corsican Brothers；〃' he thought。
'A new piece of that sort would be ten thousand pounds in my pocket； at
least。'
With these motives （worthy of the single…hearted devotion to dramatic
business which made Francis a successful manager） he related； without
further hesitation； what his own experience had been； and what the
experience of his relatives had been； in the haunted hotel。 He even
described the outbreak of superstitious terror which had escaped Mrs。
Norbury's ignorant maid。 'Sad stuff； if you look at it reasonably；' he
remarked。 'But there is something dramatic in the notion of the ghostly
influence making itself felt by the relations in succession； as they one after
another enter the fatal roomuntil the one chosen relative comes who will
see the Unearthly Creature； and know the terrible truth。 Material for a play；
Countessfirst…rate material for a play！'
There he paused。 She neither moved nor spoke。 He stooped and
looked closer at her。
What impression had he produced？ It was an impression which his
utmost ingenuity had failed to anticipate。 She stood by his side just as
she had stood before Agnes when her question about Ferrari was plainly
answered at lastlike a woman turned to stone。 Her eyes were vacant and
rigid； all the life in her face had faded out of it。 Francis took her by the
hand。 Her hand was as cold as the pavement that they were standing on。
He asked her if she was ill。
Not a muscle in her moved。 He might as well have spoken to the
dead。
'Surely；' he said； 'you are not foolish enough to take what I have been
telling you seriously？'
Her lips moved slowly。 As it seemed； she was making an effort to
speak to him。
'Louder；' he said。 'I can't hear you。'
117
… Page 118…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
She struggled to recover possession of herself。 A faint light began to
soften the dull cold stare of her eyes。 In a moment more she spoke so
that he could hear her。
'I never thought of the other world；' she murmured； in low dull tones；
like a woman talking in her sleep。
Her mind had gone back to the day of her last memorable interview
with Agnes； she was slowly recalling the confession that had escaped her；
the warning words which she had spoken at that past time。 Necessarily
incapable of understanding this； Francis looked at her in perplexity。 She
went on in the same dull vacant tone； steadily following out her own train
of thought； with her heedless eyes on his face； and her wandering mind far
away from him。
'I said some trifling event would bring us together the next time。 I was
wrong。 No trifling event will bring us together。 I said I might be the
person who told her what had become of Ferrari； if she forced me to it。
Shall I feel some other influence than hers？ Will he force me to it？ When
she sees him； shall I see him too？'
Her head sank a little； her heavy eyelids dropped slowly； she heaved a
long low weary sigh。 Francis put her arm in his； and made an attempt to
rouse her。
'Come； Countess； you are weary and over…wrought。 We have had
enough talking to…night。 Let me see you safe back to your hotel。 Is it far
from here？'
She started when he moved； and obliged her to move with him； as if he
had suddenly awakened her out of a deep sleep。
'Not far；' she said faintly。 'The old hotel on the quay。 My mind's in a
strange state； I have forgotten the name。'
'Danieli's？'
'Yes！'
He led her on slowly。 She accompanied him in silence as far as the
end of the Piazzetta。 There； when the full view of the moonlit Lagoon
revealed itself； she stopped him as he turned towards the Riva degli
Schiavo
