the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第34章
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likeness of？' He paused trembling； as Agnes had paused trembling before
him。 Agnes！ The name； of all women's names the dearest to him； was a
terror to him now！ What was he to say to her？ What might be the
consequence if he trusted her with the terrible truth？
No footsteps approached the door； no voices were audible outside。 The
travellers were still occupied in the rooms at the eastern end of the
corridor。
In the brief interval that had passed； the manager had sufficiently
recovered himself to be able to think once more of the first and foremost
interests of his lifethe interests of the hotel。 He approached Henry
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anxiously。
'If this frightful discovery becomes known；' he said； 'the closing of the
hotel and the ruin of the Company will be the inevitable results。 I feel sure
that I can trust your discretion； sir； so far？'
'You can certainly trust me；' Henry answered。 'But surely discretion
has its limits；' he added； 'after such a discovery as we have made？'
The manager understood that the duty which they owed to the
community； as honest and law…abiding men； was the duty to which Henry
now referred。 'I will at once find the means；' he said； 'of conveying the
remains privately out of the house； and I will myself place them in the care
of the police authorities。 Will you leave the room with me？ or do you not
object to keep watch here； and help me when I return？'
While he was speaking； the voices of the travellers made themselves
heard again at the end of the corridor。 Henry instantly consented to wait
in the room。 He shrank from facing the inevitable meeting with Agnes if
he showed himself in the corridor at that moment。
The manager hastened his departure； in the hope of escaping notice。
He was discovered by his guests before he could reach the head of the
stairs。 Henry heard the voices plainly as he turned the key。 While the
terrible drama of discovery was in progress on one side of the door； trivial
questions about the amusements of Venice； and facetious discussions on
the relative merits of French and Italian cookery； were proceeding on the
other。 Little by little； the sound of the talking grew fainter。 The visitors；
having arranged their plans of amusement for the day； were on their way
out of the hotel。 In a minute or two； there was silence once more。
Henry turned to the window； thinking to relieve his mind by looking at
the bright view over the canal。 He soon grew wearied of the familiar
scene。 The morbid fascination which seems to be exercised by all
horrible sights； drew him back again to the ghastly object on the floor。
Dream or reality； how had Agnes survived the sight of it？ As the
question passed through his mind； he noticed for the first time something
lying on the floor near the head。 Looking closer； he perceived a thin little
plate of gold； with three false teeth attached to it； which had apparently
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dropped out （loosened by the shock） when the manager let the head fall on
the floor。
The importance of this discovery； and the necessity of not too readily
communicating it to others； instantly struck Henry。 Here surely was a
chanceif any chance remainedof identifying the shocking relic of
humanity which lay before him； the dumb witness of a crime！ Acting on
this idea； he took possession of the teeth； purposing to use them as a last
means of inquiry when other attempts at investigation had been tried and
had failed。
He went back again to the window： the solitude of the room began to
weigh on his spirits。 As he looked out again at the view； there was a soft
knock at the door。 He hastened to open it and checked himself in the
act。 A doubt occurred to him。 Was it the manager who had knocked？
He called out； 'Who is there？'
The voice of Agnes answered him。 'Have you anything to tell me；
Henry？'
He was hardly able to reply。 'Not just now；' he said； confusedly。
'Forgive me if I don't open the door。 I will speak to you a little later。'
The sweet voice made itself heard again； pleading with him piteously。
'Don't leave me alone； Henry！ I can't go back to the happy people
downstairs。'
How could he resist that appeal？ He heard her sighhe heard the
rustling of her dress as she moved away in despair。 The very thing that
he had shrunk from doing but a few minutes since was the thing that he
did now！ He joined Agnes in the corridor。 She turned as she heard him；
and pointed； trembling； in the direction of the closed room。 'Is it so terrible
as that？' she asked faintly。
He put his arm round her to support her。 A thought came to him as he
looked at her； waiting in doubt and fear for his reply。 'You shall know what
I have discovered；' he said； 'if you will first put on your hat and cloak； and
come out with me。'
She was naturally surprised。 'Can you tell me your object in going
out？' she asked。
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He owned what his object was unreservedly。 'I want； before all
things；' he said； 'to satisfy your mind and mine； on the subject of
Montbarry's death。 I am going to take you to the doctor who attended
him in his illness； and to the consul who followed him to the grave。'
Her eyes rested on Henry gratefully。 'Oh； how well you understand
me！' she said。 The manager joined them at the same moment； on his way
up the stairs。 Henry gave him the key of the room； and then called to the
servants in the hall to have a gondola ready at the steps。 'Are you leaving
the hotel？' the manager asked。 'In search of evidence；' Henry whispered；
pointing to the key。 'If the authorities want me； I shall be back in an
hour。'
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CHAPTER XXV
The day had advanced to evening。 Lord Montbarry and the bridal
party had gone to the Opera。 Agnes alone； pleading the excuse of fatigue；
remained at the hotel。 Having kept up appearances by accompanying his
friends to the theatre； Henry Westwick slipped away after the first act； and
joined Agnes in the drawing…room。
'Have you thought of what I said to you earlier in the day？' he asked；
taking a chair at her side。 'Do you agree with me that the one dreadful
doubt which oppressed us both is at least set at rest？'
Agnes shook her head sadly。 'I wish I could agree with you； Henry
I wish I could honestly say that my mind is at ease。'
The answer would have discouraged most men。 Henry's patience
（where Agnes was concerned） was equal to any demands on it。
'If you will only look back at the events of the day；' he said； 'you must
surely admit that we have not been completely baffled。 Remember how Dr。
Bruno disposed of our doubts：〃After thirty years of medical practice； do
you think I am likely to mistake the symptoms of death by bronchitis？〃
If ever there was an unanswerable question； there it is！ Was the consul's
testimony doubtful in any part of it？ He called at the palace to offer his
services； after hearing of Lord Montbarry's death； he arrived at the time
when the coffin was in the house； he himself saw the corpse placed in it；
and the lid screwed down。 The evidence of the priest is equally beyond
dispute。 He remained in the room with the coffin； reciting the prayers for
the dead； until the funeral left the palace。 Bear all these statements in
mind； Agnes； and how can you deny that the question of Montbarry's
death and burial is a question set at rest？ We have really but one doubt
left： we have still to ask ourselves whether the remains which I
discovered are the remains of the lost courier； or not。 There is the case；
as I understand it。 Have I stated it fairly？'
Agnes could not deny that he had stated it fairly。
〃Then what prevents you from experiencing the same sense of relief
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that I feel？' Henry asked。
'What I saw last night prevents me；' Agnes answered。 'When we
spoke of this subject； after our inquiries were over； you reproached me
with taking what you called the superstitious view。 I don't quite admit
thatbut I do acknowledge that I should find the superstitious view
intelligible if I heard it expressed by some other person。 Remembering
what your brother and I once were to each other in the bygone time； I can
understand the apparition making itself visible to me； to claim the mercy
of Christian burial； and the vengeance due to a crime。 I can even
perceive some faint possibility of truth in the explanation which you
described as the mesmeric theory that what I saw might be the result of
magnetic influence communicated to me； as I lay between the remains of
the murdered husband above me and the guilty wife suffering the tortures
of remorse at my bedside。 But what I do not understand is； that I should
have passed through that dreadful ordeal； having no previous knowledge
of the murdered man in his lifetime； or only knowing him （if you suppose
that I saw the apparition of Ferrari） through the interest which I took in his
wife。 I can't di
