the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第12章
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with Lady Montbarry。 Her ladyship looked miserably worn and ill； and
seemed to be quite at a loss to understand what we wanted with her。 Baron
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Rivar； who introduced us； explained the nature of our errand in Venice；
and took pains to assure her that it was a purely formal duty on which we
were engaged。 Having satisfied her ladyship on this point； he discreetly
left the room。
'The questions which we addressed to Lady Montbarry related mainly；
of course； to his lordship's illness。 The answers； given with great
nervousness of manner； but without the slightest appearance of reserve；
informed us of the facts that follow：
'Lord Montbarry had been out of order for some time past nervous
and irritable。 He first complained of having taken cold on November 13
last； he passed a wakeful and feverish night； and remained in bed the next
day。 Her ladyship proposed sending for medical advice。 He refused to
allow her to do this； saying that he could quite easily be his own doctor in
such a trifling matter as a cold。 Some hot lemonade was made at his
request； with a view to producing perspiration。 Lady Montbarry's maid
having left her at that time； the courier Ferrari （then the only servant in the
house） went out to buy the lemons。 Her ladyship made the drink with her
own hands。 It was successful in producing perspirationand Lord
Montbarry had some hours of sleep afterwards。 Later in the day； having
need of Ferrari's services； Lady Montbarry rang for him。 The bell was
not answered。 Baron Rivar searched for the man； in the palace and out of it；
in vain。 From that time forth not a trace of Ferrari could be discovered。
This happened on November 14。
'On the night of the 14th； the feverish symptoms accompanying his
lordship's cold returned。 They were in part perhaps attributable to the
annoyance and alarm caused by Ferrari's mysterious disappearance。 It had
been impossible to conceal the circumstance； as his lordship rang
repeatedly for the courier； insisting that the man should relieve Lady
Montbarry and the Baron by taking their places during the night at his
bedside。
'On the 15th （the day on which the old woman first came to do the
housework）； his lordship complained of sore throat； and of a feeling of
oppression on the chest。 On this day； and again on the 16th； her ladyship
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and the Baron entreated him to see a doctor。 He still refused。 〃I don't
want strange faces about me； my cold will run its course； in spite of the
doctor；〃 that was his answer。 On the 17th he was so much worse that it
was decided to send for medical help whether he liked it or not。 Baron
Rivar； after inquiry at the consul's； secured the services of Doctor Bruno；
well known as an eminent physician in Venice； with the additional
recommendation of having resided in England； and having made himself
acquainted with English forms of medical practice。
'Thus far our account of his lordship's illness has been derived from
statements made by Lady Montbarry。 The narrative will now be most
fitly continued in the language of the doctor's own report； herewith
subjoined。
'〃My medical diary informs me that I first saw the English Lord
Montbarry； on November 17。 He was suffering from a sharp attack of
bronchitis。 Some precious time had been lost； through his obstinate
objection to the presence of a medical man at his bedside。 Generally
speaking； he appeared to be in a delicate state of health。 His nervous
system was out of orderhe was at once timid and contradictory。 When I
spoke to him in English； he answered in Italian； and when I tried him in
Italian； he went back to English。 It mattered littlethe malady had already
made such progress that he could only speak a few words at a time； and
those in a whisper。
'〃I at once applied the necessary remedies。 Copies of my
prescriptions （with translation into English） accompany the present
statement； and are left to speak for themselves。
'〃For the next three days I was in constant attendance on my patient。
He answered to the remedies employedimproving slowly； but decidedly。
I could conscientiously assure Lady Montbarry that no danger was to be
apprehended thus far。 She was indeed a most devoted wife。 I vainly
endeavoured to induce her to accept the services of a competent nurse； she
would allow nobody to attend on her husband but herself。 Night and day
this estimable woman was at his bedside。 In her brief intervals of repose；
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her brother watched the sick man in her place。 This brother was； I must
say； very good company； in the intervals when we had time for a little talk。
He dabbled in chemistry； down in the horrid under…water vaults of the
palace； and he wanted to show me some of his experiments。 I have
enough of chemistry in writing prescriptionsand I declined。 He took it
quite good…humouredly。
'〃I am straying away from my subject。 Let me return to the sick lord。
'〃Up to the 20th； then； things went well enough。 I was quite
unprepared for the disastrous change that showed itself； when I paid Lord
Montbarry my morning visit on the 21st。 He had relapsed； and seriously
relapsed。 Examining him to discover the cause； I found symptoms of
pneumoniathat is to say； in unmedical language； inflammation of the
substance of the lungs。 He breathed with difficulty； and was only partially
able to relieve himself by coughing。 I made the strictest inquiries； and
was assured that his medicine had been administered as carefully as usual；
and that he had not been exposed to any changes of temperature。 It was
with great reluctance that I added to Lady Montbarry's distress； but I felt
bound； when she suggested a consultation with another physician； to own
that I too thought there was really need for it。
'〃Her ladyship instructed me to spare no expense； and to get the best
medical opinion in Italy。 The best opinion was happily within our reach。
The first and foremost of Italian physicians is Torello of Padua。 I sent a
special messenger for the great man。 He arrived on the evening of the 21
st； and confirmed my opinion that pneumonia had set in； and that our
patient's life was in danger。 I told him what my treatment of the case had
been； and he approved of it in every particular。 He made some valuable
suggestions； and （at Lady Montbarry's express request） he consented to
defer his return to Padua until the following morning。
'〃We both saw the patient at intervals in the course of the night。 The
disease； steadily advancing； set our utmost resistance at defiance。 In the
morning Doctor Torello took his leave。 'I can be of no further use；' he
said to me。 'The man is past all helpand he ought to know it。'
'〃Later in the day I warned my lord； as gently as I could； that his time
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had come。 I am informed that there are serious reasons for my stating
what passed between us on this occasion； in detail； and without any
reserve。 I comply with the request。
'〃Lord Montbarry received the intelligence of his approaching death
with becoming composure； but with a certain doubt。 He signed to me to
put my ear to his mouth。 He whispered faintly； 'Are you sure？' It was no
time to deceive him； I said； 'Positively sure。' He waited a little； gasping for
breath； and then he whispered again； 'Feel under my pillow。' I found
under his pillow a letter； sealed and stamped； ready for the post。 His next
words were just audible and no more'Post it yourself。' I answered； of
course； that I would do soand I did post the letter with my own hand。 I
looked at the address。 It was directed to a lady in London。 The street I
cannot remember。 The name I can perfectly recall： it was an Italian
name'Mrs。 Ferrari。'
'〃That night my lord nearly died of asphyxia。 I got him through it for
the time； and his eyes showed that he understood me when I told him； the
next morning； that I had posted the letter。 This was his last effort of
consciousness。 When I saw him again he was sunk in apathy。 He
lingered in a state of insensibility； supported by stimulants； until the 25th；
and died （unconscious to the last） on the evening of that day。
'〃As to the cause of his death； it seems （if I may be excused for saying
so） simply absurd to ask the question。 Bronchitis； terminating in
pneumoniathere is no more doubt that this； and this only； was the malady
of which he expired； than that two and two make four。 Doctor Torello's
own note of the case is added here to a duplicate of my certificate； in order
（as I am informed） to satisfy some English offices in which his lordship's
life was insured。 The English offices must have been founded by that
celebrated saint and doubter； mentioned in the New Testament； whose
name was Thomas！〃
'Doctor Bruno's evidence ends here。
'Reverting for a moment to our inquiries addressed to Lady Montbarry；
