the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第11章
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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。
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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
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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
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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 remarkable departure of the only two
servants in the house； might have some suspicious connection with the
nature of his death。 We found nothing to justify suspicion。
'As to his lordship's retired way of life； we have conversed on the
subject with the consul and the bankerthe only two strangers who held
any communication with him。 He called once at the bank to obtain
money on his letter of credit； and excused himself from accepting an
invitation to visit the banker at his private residence； on the ground of
delicate health。 His lordship wrote to the same effect on sending his card
to the consul； to excuse himself from personally returning that gentleman's
visit to the palace。 We have seen the letter； and we beg to offer the
following copy of it。 〃Many years passed in India have injured my
constitution。 I have ceased to go into society； the one occupation of my
life now is the study of Oriental literature。 The air of Italy is better for
me than the air of England； or I should never have left home。 Pray accept
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the apologies of a student and an invalid。 The active part of my life is at
an end。〃 The self…seclusion of his lordship seems to us to be explained in
these brief lines。 We have not； however； on that account spared our
inquiries in other directions。 Nothing to excite a suspicion of anything
wrong has come to our knowledge。
'As to the departure of the lady's maid； we have seen the woman's
receipt for her wages； in which it is expressly stated that she left Lady
Montbarry's service because she disliked the Continent； and wished to get
back to her own country。 This is not an uncommon result of taking
English servants to foreign parts。 Lady Montbarry has informed us that she
abstained from engaging another maid in consequence of the extreme
dislike which his lordship expressed to having strangers in the house； in
the state of his health at that time。
'The disappearance of the courier Ferrari is； in itself； unquestionably a
suspicious circumstance。 Neither her ladyship nor the Baron can explain
it； and no investigation that we could make has thrown the smallest light
on this event； or has justified us in associating it； directly or indirectly；
with the object of our inquiry。 We have even gone the length of examining
the portmanteau which Ferrari left behind him。 It contains nothing but
clothes and linen no money； and not even a scrap of paper in the pockets
of the clothes。 The portmanteau remains in charge of the police。
'We have also found opportunities of speaking privately to the old
woman who attends to the rooms occupied by her ladyship and the Baron。
She was recommended to fill this situation by the keeper of the restaurant
who has supplied the meals to the family throughout the period of their
residence at the palace。 Her character is most favourably spoken of。
Unfortunately； her limited intelligence makes her of no value as a witness。
We were patient and careful in questioning her； and we found her perfectly
willing to answer us； but we could elicit nothing which is worth including
in the present report。
'On the second day of our inquiries； we had the honour of an interview
with Lady Montbarry。 Her ladyship looked miserably worn and ill； and
seemed to be quite at
