the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第12章
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he was the exact opposite of a commonplace man。
'She looks very ill； poor thing！' In these words the lawyer opened the
business of the evening； referring to Mrs。 Ferrari as unceremoniously as if
she had been out of the room。
'She has suffered a terrible shock；' Agnes answered。
Mr。 Troy turned to Mrs。 Ferrari； and looked at her again； with the
interest due to the victim of a shock。 He drummed absently with his
fingers on the table。 At last he spoke to her。
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'My good lady； you don't really believe that your husband is dead？'
Mrs。 Ferrari put her handkerchief to her eyes。 The word 'dead' was
ineffectual to express her feelings。 'Murdered！' she said sternly； behind
her handkerchief。
'Why？ And by whom？' Mr。 Troy asked。
Mrs。 Ferrari seemed to have some difficulty in answering。 'You have
read my husband's letters； sir；' she began。 'I believe he discovered' She
got as far as that； and there she stopped。
'What did he discover？'
There are limits to human patienceeven the patience of a bereaved
wife。 This cool question irritated Mrs。 Ferrari into expressing herself
plainly at last。
'He discovered Lady Montbarry and the Baron！' she answered； with a
burst of hysterical vehemence。 'The Baron is no more that vile woman's
brother than I am。 The wickedness of those two wretches came to my
poor dear husband's knowledge。 The lady's maid left her place on
account of it。 If Ferrari had gone away too； he would have been alive at
this moment。 They have killed him。 I say they have killed him； to
prevent it from getting to Lord Montbarry's ears。' So； in short sharp
sentences； and in louder and louder accents； Mrs。 Ferrari stated her
opinion of the case。
Still keeping his own view in reserve； Mr。 Troy listened with an
expression of satirical approval。
'Very strongly stated； Mrs。 Ferrari；' he said。 'You build up your
sentences well； you clinch your conclusions in a workmanlike manner。 If
you had been a man； you would have made a good lawyer you would
have taken juries by the scruff of their necks。 Complete the case； my good
ladycomplete the case。 Tell us next who sent you this letter； enclosing the
bank…note。 The 〃two wretches〃 who murdered Mr。 Ferrari would hardly
put their hands in their pockets and send you a thousand pounds。 Who is
iteh？ I see the post…mark on the letter is 〃Venice。〃 Have you any friend
in that interesting city； with a large heart； and a purse to correspond； who
has been let into the secret and who wishes to console you anonymously？'
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It was not easy to reply to this。 Mrs。 Ferrari began to feel the first
inward approaches of something like hatred towards Mr。 Troy。 'I don't
understand you； sir；' she answered。 'I don't think this is a joking matter。'
Agnes interfered； for the first time。 She drew her chair a little nearer
to her legal counsellor and friend。
'What is the most probable explanation； in your opinion？' she asked。
'I shall offend Mrs。 Ferrari if I tell you；' Mr。 Troy answered。
'No； sir； you won't！' cried Mrs。 Ferrari； hating Mr。 Troy undisguisedly
by this time。
The lawyer leaned back in his chair。 'Very well；' he said； in his most
good…humoured manner。 'Let's have it out。 Observe； madam； I don't
dispute your view of the position of affairs at the palace in Venice。 You
have your husband's letters to justify you； and you have also the
significant fact that Lady Montbarry's maid did really leave the house。
We will say； then； that Lord Montbarry has presumably been made the
victim of a foul wrong that Mr。 Ferrari was the first to find it outand
that the guilty persons had reason to fear； not only that he would acquaint
Lord Montbarry with his discovery； but that he would be a principal
witness against them if the scandal was made public in a court of law。
Now mark！ Admitting all this； I draw a totally different conclusion from
the conclusion at which you have arrived。 Here is your husband left in this
miserable household of three； under very awkward circumstances for him。
What does he do？ But for the bank…note and the written message sent to
you with it； I should say that he had wisely withdrawn himself from
association with a disgraceful discovery and exposure； by taking secretly
to flight。 The money modifies this viewunfavourably so far as Mr。
Ferrari is concerned。 I still believe he is keeping out of the way。 But I
now say he is paid for keeping out of the wayand that bank…note there on
the table is the price of his absence； sent by the guilty persons to his wife。'
Mrs。 Ferrari's watery grey eyes brightened suddenly； Mrs。 Ferrari's
dull drab…coloured complexion became enlivened by a glow of brilliant
red。
'It's false！' she cried。 'It's a burning shame to speak of my husband in
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that way！'
'I told you I should offend you！' said Mr。 Troy。
Agnes interposed once morein the interests of peace。 She took the
offended wife's hand； she appealed to the lawyer to reconsider that side of
his theory which reflected harshly on Ferrari。 While she was still speaking；
the servant interrupted her by entering the room with a visiting…card。 It
was the card of Henry Westwick； and there was an ominous request
written on it in pencil。 'I bring bad news。 Let me see you for a minute
downstairs。' Agnes immediately left the room。
Alone with Mrs。 Ferrari； Mr。 Troy permitted his natural kindness of
heart to show itself on the surface at last。 He tried to make his peace
with the courier's wife。
'You have every claim； my good soul； to resent a reflection cast upon
your husband；' he began。 'I may even say that I respect you for speaking
so warmly in his defence。 At the same time； remember； that I am bound；
in such a serious matter as this； to tell you what is really in my mind。 I can
have no intention of offending you； seeing that I am a total stranger to you
and to Mr。 Ferrari。 A thousand pounds is a large sum of money； and a
poor man may excusably be tempted by it to do nothing worse than to
keep out of the way for a while。 My only interest； acting on your behalf； is
to get at the truth。 If you will give me time； I see no reason to despair of
finding your husband yet。'
Ferrari's wife listened； without being convinced： her narrow little
mind； filled to its extreme capacity by her unfavourable opinion of Mr。
Troy； had no room left for the process of correcting its first impression。 'I
am much obliged to you； sir；' was all she said。 Her eyes were more
communica
