the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第35章
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that I saw the apparition of Ferrari） through the interest which I took in his
wife。 I can't dispute your reasoning； Henry。 But I feel in my heart of
hearts that you are deceived。 Nothing will shake my belief that we are
still as far from having discovered the dreadful truth as ever。'
Henry made no further attempt to dispute with her。 She had
impressed him with a certain reluctant respect for her own opinion； in
spite of himself。
'Have you thought of any better way of arriving at the truth？' he asked。
'Who is to help us？ No doubt there is the Countess； who has the clue to
the mystery in her own hands。 But； in the present state of her mind； is
her testimony to be trustedeven if she were willing to speak？ Judging
by my own experience； I should say decidedly not。'
'You don't mean that you have seen her again？' Agnes eagerly
interposed。
'Yes。 I disturbed her once more over her endless writing； and I
insisted on her speaking out plainly。'
'Then you told her what you found when you opened the hiding…
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place？'
'Of course I did！' Henry replied。 'I said that I held her responsible
for the discovery； though I had not mentioned her connection with it to the
authorities as yet。 She went on with her writing as if I had spoken in an
unknown tongue！ I was equally obstinate； on my side。 I told her plainly
that the head had been placed under the care of the police； and that the
manager and I had signed our declarations and given our evidence。 She
paid not the slightest heed to me。 By way of tempting her to speak； I added
that the whole investigation was to be kept a secret； and that she might
depend on my discretion。 For the moment I thought I had succeeded。
She looked up from her writing with a passing flash of curiosity； and said；
〃What are they going to do with it？〃meaning； I suppose； the head。 I
answered that it was to be privately buried； after photographs of it had first
been taken。 I even went the length of communicating the opinion of the
surgeon consulted； that some chemical means of arresting decomposition
had been used and had only partially succeeded and I asked her point…
blank if the surgeon was right？ The trap was not a bad onebut it
completely failed。 She said in the coolest manner； 〃Now you are here； I
should like to consult you about my play； I am at a loss for some new
incidents。〃 Mind！ there was nothing satirical in this。 She was really
eager to read her wonderful work to meevidently supposing that I took a
special interest in such things； because my brother is the manager of a
theatre！ I left her； making the first excuse that occurred to me。 So far as I
am concerned； I can do nothing with her。 But it is possible that your
influence may succeed with her again； as it has succeeded already。 Will
you make the attempt； to satisfy your own mind？ She is still upstairs；
and I am quite ready to accompany you。'
Agnes shuddered at the bare suggestion of another interview with the
Countess。
'I can't！ I daren't！' she exclaimed。 'After what has happened in that
horrible room； she is more repellent to me than ever。 Don't ask me to do it；
Henry！ Feel my handyou have turned me as cold as death only with
talking of it！'
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She was not exaggerating the terror that possessed her。 Henry hastened
to change the subject。
'Let us talk of something more interesting；' he said。 'I have a question
to ask you about yourself。 Am I right in believing that the sooner you get
away from Venice the happier you will be？'
'Right？' she repeated excitedly。 'You are more than right！ No words
can say how I long to be away from this horrible place。 But you know how
I am situatedyou heard what Lord Montbarry said at dinner…time？'
'Suppose he has altered his plans； since dinner…time？' Henry suggested。
Agnes looked surprised。 'I thought he had received letters from
England which obliged him to leave Venice to…morrow；' she said。
'Quite true；' Henry admitted。 'He had arranged to start for England
to…morrow； and to leave you and Lady Montbarry and the children to
enjoy your holiday in Venice； under my care。 Circumstances have
occurred； however； which have forced him to alter his plans。 He must
take you all back with him to…morrow because I am not able to assume the
charge of you。 I am obliged to give up my holiday in Italy； and return to
England too。'
Agnes looked at him in some little perplexity： she was not quite sure
whether she understood him or not。
'Are you really obliged to go back？' she asked。
Henry smiled as he answered her。 'Keep the secret；' he said； 'or
Montbarry will never forgive me！'
She read the rest in his face。 'Oh！' she exclaimed； blushing brightly；
'you have not given up your pleasant holiday in Italy on my account？'
'I shall go back with you to England； Agnes。 That will be holiday
enough for me。'
She took his hand in an irrepressible outburst of gratitude。 'How good
you are to me！' she murmured tenderly。 'What should I have done in the
troubles that have come to me； without your sympathy？ I can't tell you；
Henry； how I feel your kindness。'
She tried impulsively to lift his hand to her lips。 He gently stopped
her。 'Agnes；' he said； 'are you beginning to understand how truly I love
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you？'
That simple question found its own way to her heart。 She owned the
whole truth； without saying a word。 She looked at him and then looked
away again。
He drew her nearer to him。 'My own darling！' he whispered and
kissed her。 Softly and tremulously； the sweet lips lingered； and touched
his lips in return。 Then her head drooped。 She put her arms round his
neck； and hid her face on his bosom。 They spoke no more。
The charmed silence had lasted but a little while； when it was
mercilessly broken by a knock at the door。
Agnes started to her feet。 She placed herself at the piano； the
instrument being opposite to the door； it was impossible； when she seated
herself on the music…stool； for any person entering the room to see her face。
Henry called out irritably； 'Come in。'
The door was not opened。 The person on the other side of it asked a
strange question。
'Is Mr。 Henry Westwick alone？'
Agnes instantly recognised the voice of the Countess。 She hurried to
a second door； which communicated with one of the bedrooms。 'Don't let
her come near me！' she whispered nervously。 'Good night； Henry！ good
night！'
If Henry could； by an effort of will； have transported the Countess to
the uttermost ends of the earth； he would have made the effort without
remorse。 As it was； he only repeated； more irritably than ever； 'Come in！'
She entered the room slowly with her everlasting manuscript in her
hand。 Her step was unsteady； a dark flush appeared on her face； in place of
its customary pallor； her eyes were bloodshot and widely dilated。 In
approaching Henry； she showed a strange incapability of calculating her
distancesshe struck against the table near which he happened to be
sitting。 When she spoke； her articulation was confused； and her
pronunciation of some of the longer words was hardly intelligible。 Most
men would have suspected her of being under the influence of some
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intoxicating liquor。 Henry took a truer viewhe said； as he placed a chair
for her； 'Countess； I am afraid you have been working too hard： you look
as if you wanted rest。'
She put her hand to her head。 'My invention has gone；' she said。 'I
can't write my fourth act。 It's all a blankall a blank！'
Henry advised her to wait till the next day。 'Go to bed；' he suggested；
and try to sleep。'
She waved her hand impatiently。 'I must finish the play；' she
answered。 'I only want a hint from you。 You must know something
about plays。 Your brother has got a theatre。 You must often have heard
him talk about fourth and fifth acts you must have seen rehearsals； and
all the rest of it。' She abruptly thrust the manuscript into Henry's hand。 'I
can't read it to you；' she said； 'I feel giddy when I look at my own writing。
Just run your eye over it； there's a good fellowand give me a hint。'
Henry glanced at the manuscript。 He happened to look at the list of
the persons of the drama。 As he read the list he started and turned
abruptly to the Countess； intending to ask her for some explanation。 The
words were suspended on his lips。 It was but too plainly useless to speak
to her。 Her head lay back on the rail of the chair。 She seemed to be half
asleep already。 The flush on her face had deepened： she looked like a
woman who was in danger of having a fit。
He rang the bell； and directed the man who answered it to send one of
the chambermaids upstairs。 His voice seemed to partially rouse the
Countess； she opened her eyes in a slow drowsy way。 'Have you read it？'
she asked。
