the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第23章
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！
at the Scala。 Not having heard to the contrary； Mrs。 Norbury supposed
that Arthur Barville and his wife had already arrived at Venice。 She was
99
… Page 100…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
more interested in meeting the young married couple than in awaiting the
result of the hard bargaining which delayed the engagement of the new
dancer； and she volunteered to make her brother's apologies； if his
theatrical business caused him to be late in keeping his appointment at the
honeymoon festival。
Mrs。 Norbury's experience of Number Fourteen differed entirely from
her brother Henry's experience of the room。
Failing asleep as readily as usual； her repose was disturbed by a
succession of frightful dreams； the central figure in every one of them
being the figure of her dead brother； the first Lord Montbarry。 She saw
him starving in a loathsome prison； she saw him pursued by assassins； and
dying under their knives； she saw him drowning in immeasurable depths
of dark water； she saw him in a bed on fire； burning to death in the flames；
she saw him tempted by a shadowy creature to drink； and dying of the
poisonous draught。 The reiterated horror of these dreams had such an
effect on her that she rose with the dawn of day； afraid to trust herself
again in bed。 In the old times； she had been noted in the family as the one
member of it who lived on affectionate terms with Montbarry。 His other
sister and his brothers were constantly quarrelling with him。 Even his
mother owned that her eldest son was of all her children the child whom
she least liked。 Sensible and resolute woman as she was； Mrs。 Norbury
shuddered with terror as she sat at the window of her room； watching the
sunrise； and thinking of her dreams。
She made the first excuse that occurred to her； when her maid came in
at the usual hour； and noticed how ill she looked。 The woman was of so
superstitious a temperament that it would have been in the last degree
indiscreet to trust her with the truth。 Mrs。 Norbury merely remarked that
she had not found the bed quite to her liking； on account of the large size
of it。 She was accustomed at home； as her maid knew； to sleep in a small
bed。 Informed of this objection later in the day； the manager regretted that
he could only offer to the lady the choice of one other bedchamber；
numbered Thirty…eight； and situated immediately over the bedchamber
which she desired to leave。 Mrs。 Norbury accepted the proposed change
100
… Page 101…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
of quarters。 She was now about to pass her second night in the room
occupied in the old days of the palace by Baron Rivar。
Once more； she fell asleep as usual。 And； once more； the frightful
dreams of the first night terrified her； following each other in the same
succession。 This time her nerves； already shaken； were not equal to the
renewed torture of terror inflicted on them。 She threw on her dressing…
gown； and rushed out of her room in the middle of the night。 The porter；
alarmed by the banging of the door； met her hurrying headlong down the
stairs； in search of the first human being she could find to keep her
company。 Considerably surprised at this last new manifestation of the
famous 'English eccentricity；' the man looked at the hotel register； and led
the lady upstairs again to the room occupied by her maid。 The maid was
not asleep； and； more wonderful still； was not even undressed。 She
received her mistress quietly。 When they were alone； and when Mrs。
Norbury had； as a matter of necessity； taken her attendant into her
confidence； the woman made a very strange reply。
'I have been asking about the hotel； at the servants' supper to…night；'
she said。 'The valet of one of the gentlemen staying here has heard that
the late Lord Montbarry was the last person who lived in the palace；
before it was made into an hotel。 The room he died in； ma'am； was the
room you slept in last night。 Your room tonight is the room just above it。
I said nothing for fear of frightening you。 For my own part； I have
passed the night as you see； keeping my light on； and reading my Bible。
In my opinion； no member of your family can hope to be happy or
comfortable in this house。'
'What do you mean？'
'Please to let me explain myself； ma'am。 When Mr。 Henry Westwick
was here （I have this from the valet； too） he occupied the room his brother
died in （without knowing it）； like you。 For two nights he never closed his
eyes。 Without any reason for it （the valet heard him tell the gentlemen in
the coffee…room） he could not sleep； he felt so low and so wretched in
himself。 And what is more； when daytime came； he couldn't even eat while
he was under this roof You may laugh at me； ma'ambut even a servant
101
… Page 102…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
may draw her own conclusions。 It's my conclusion that something
happened to my lord； which we none of us know about； when he died in
this house。 His ghost walks in torment until he can tell it and the living
persons related to him are the persons who feel he is near them。 Those
persons may yet see him in the time to come。 Don't； pray don't stay any
longer in this dreadful place！ I wouldn't stay another night here myself
no； not for anything that could be offered me！'
Mrs。 Norbury at once set her servant's mind at ease on this last point。
'I don't think about it as you do；' she said gravely。 'But I should like to
speak to my brother of what has happened。 We will go back to Milan。'
Some hours necessarily elapsed before they could leave the hotel； by
the first train in the forenoon。
In that interval； Mrs。 Norbury's maid found an opportunity of
confidentially informing the valet of what had passed between her mistress
and herself。 The valet had other friends to whom he related the
circumstances in his turn。 In due course of time； the narrative； passing
from mouth to mouth； reached the ears of the manager。 He instantly saw
that the credit of the hotel was in danger； unless something was done to
retrieve the character of the room numbered Fourteen。 English travellers；
well acquainted with the peerage of their native country； informed him that
Henry Westwick and Mrs。 Norbury were by no means the only members
of the Montbarry family。 Curiosity might bring more of them to the hotel；
after hearing what had happened。 The manager's ingenuity easily hit on
the obvious means of misleading them； in this case。 The numbers of all
the rooms were enamelled in blue； on white china plates； screwed to the
doors。 He ordered a new plate to be prepared； bearing the number； '13 A'；
and he kept the room empty； after its tenant for the time being had gone
away； until the plate was ready。 He then re…numbered the room； placing
the removed Number Fourteen on the door of his own room （on the
second floor）； which； not being to let； had not previously been numbered
at all。 By this device； Number Fourteen disappeared at once and for ever
from the books of the hotel； as the number of a bedroom to let。
Having warned the servants to beware of gossiping with travellers； on
102
… Page 103…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
the subject of the changed numbers； under penalty of being dismissed； the
manager composed his mind with the reflection that he had done his duty
to his employers。 'Now；' he thought to himself； with an excusable sense
of triumph； 'let the whole family come here if they like！ The hotel is a
match for them。'
103
… Page 104…
THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER XVIII
Before the end of the week； the manager found himself in relations
with 'the family' once more。 A telegram from Milan announced that Mr。
Francis Westwick would arrive in Venice on the next day； and would be
obliged if Number Fourteen； on the first floor； could be reserved for him；
in the event of its being vacant at the time。
The manager paused to consider； before he issued his directions。
The re…numbered room had been last let to a French gentleman。 It
would be occupied on the day of Mr。 Francis Westwick's arrival； but it
would be empty again on the day after。 Would it be well to reserve the
room for the special occupation of Mr。 Francis？ and when he had passed
the night unsuspiciously and comfortably in 'No。 13 A；' to ask him in the
presence of witnesses how he liked his bedchamber？ In this case； if the
reputation of the room happened to be called in question again； the answer
would vindicate it； on the evidence of a member of the very family which
had first given Number Fourteen a bad name。 After a little reflection； the
manager decided on trying the experiment； and directed that '13 A' should
be reserved accordingly。
On the next day； Francis Westwick arrived in excellent spirits。
He had signed agreements with the most popular dancer in Italy； he
had transferred the charge of Mrs。 Norbury to his brother Henry； who had
joined him in Milan； and he was now at full liberty to amuse himself by
testing in every possible way the extraordinary influence exercised over
his relatives by the new hotel。 When his brother and sister first told him
what their experience had been； he instantly declared that he would go to
Venice in the interest of his theatre。 The
