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第2章

the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第2章

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insane?' 

     She had her answer ready on the instant。 

     'I don't go to a doctor of that sort;' she said; 'for the very reason that he 

is a specialist:     he has the fatal habit of judging everybody by lines and 

rules of his own laying down。           I come to you; because my case is outside 

of all lines and rules; and because you are famous in your profession for 

the discovery of mysteries in disease。 Are you satisfied?' 

     He was more than satisfiedhis first idea had been the right idea; after 

all。   Besides; she was correctly informed as to his professional position。 

The capacity which had raised him to fame and fortune was his capacity 

(unrivalled among his brethren) for the discovery of remote disease。 

     'I am at your disposal;' he answered。          'Let me try if I can find out what 

is the matter with you。' 

     He    put   his  medical     questions。    They     were    promptly     and   plainly 

answered; and they led to no other conclusion than that the strange lady 

was;    mentally    and   physically;    in  excellent    health。   Not     satisfied  with 

questions; he carefully examined the great organs of life。 Neither his hand 

nor   his   stethoscope   could   discover   anything   that   was   amiss。      With   the 

admirable   patience   and   devotion   to   his   art   which   had   distinguished   him 

from the time when he was a student; he still subjected her to one test after 

another。     The     result  was    always    the   same。    Not    only   was    there   no 

tendency to brain disease there was not even a perceptible derangement 

of the nervous system。 'I can find nothing the matter with you;' he said。                 'I 

can't even account for the extraordinary pallor of your complexion。                    You 

completely puzzle me。' 

     'The    pallor   of  my    complexion      is  nothing;'    she   answered     a  little 

impatiently。      'In  my    early   life  I  had  a  narrow    escape    from    death   by 

poisoning。      I   have   never   had   a  complexion      sinceand    my   skin   is  so 

delicate; I cannot paint without producing a hideous rash。 But that is of no 

importance。       I   wanted   your   opinion   given   positively。   I   believed   in   you; 



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                       THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice 



and you have disappointed me。'             Her head dropped on her breast。              'And 

so it ends!' she said to herself bitterly。 

     The   Doctor's   sympathies   were   touched。          Perhaps   it   might   be   more 

correct to say that his professional pride was a little hurt。 'It may end in the 

right way yet;' he remarked; 'if you choose to help me。' 

     She looked up again with flashing eyes; 'Speak plainly;' she said。 'How 

can I help you?' 

     'Plainly; madam; you come to me as an enigma; and you leave me to 

make   the   right   guess   by  the   unaided   efforts   of   my   art。 My  art   will   do 

much;      but   not   all。   For    example;      something      must    have    occurred 

something   quite   unconnected   with   the   state   of   your   bodily   health   to 

frighten you about yourself; or you would never have come here to consult 

me。     Is that true?' 

     She clasped   her   hands in her lap。         'That   is   true!' she   said   eagerly。  'I 

begin to believe in you again。' 

     'Very  well。     You   can't   expect   me   to   find   out the   moral   cause   which 

has alarmed you。        I can positively discover that there is no physical cause 

of alarm; and (unless you admit me to your confidence) I can do no more。' 

     She rose; and took a turn in the room。             'Suppose I tell you?' she said。 

'But; mind; I shall mention no names!' 

     'There is no need to mention names。             The facts are all I want。' 

     'The     facts   are   nothing;'    she    rejoined。     'I   have    only    my    own 

impressions to confessand you will very likely think me a fanciful fool 

when you hear what they are。             No matter。       I will do my best to content 

you I will begin with the facts that you want。              Take my word for it; they 

won't do much to help you。' 

     She   sat   down   again。     In   the   plainest   possible   words;   she   began   the 

strangest and wildest confession that had ever reached the Doctor's ears。 



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                                CHAPTER II 



       'It is one fact; sir; that I am a widow;' she said。            'It is another fact; 

that I am going to be married again。' 

     There   she   paused;   and   smiled   at   some   thought   that   occurred   to   her。 

Doctor Wybrow   was   not   favourably   impressed   by  her   smile   there   was 

something at once sad and cruel in it。             It came slowly; and it went away 

suddenly。      He began to doubt whether he had been wise in acting on his 

first impression。      His mind reverted to the commonplace patients and the 

discoverable   maladies   that   were   waiting   for   him;   with   a   certain   tender 

regret。 

     The lady went on。 

     'My     approaching        marriage;'     she    said;   'has    one    embarrassing 

circumstance connected with it。            The gentleman whose wife I am to be; 

was engaged to another lady when he happened to meet with me; abroad: 

that lady; mind; being of his own blood and family; related to him as his 

cousin。     I   have   innocently   robbed   her   of   her   lover;   and   destroyed   her 

prospects   in   life。   Innocently;   I   saybecause   he   told   me   nothing   of   his 

engagement until after I had accepted him。 When we next met in England… 

…and    when     there   was   danger;    no   doubt;    of  the  affair   coming     to  my 

knowledgehe told me the truth。 I was naturally indignant。                    He had his 

excuse ready; he showed me a letter from the lady herself; releasing him 

from  his   engagement。 A  more   noble;   a   more   high…minded   letter;   I   never 

read in my life。 I cried over itI who have no tears in me for sorrows of 

my   own!   If   the   letter   had   left   him  any   hope   of   being   forgiven;   I   would 

have   positively   refused   to   marry   him。     But   the   firmness   of   it   without 

anger;   without   a   word   of   reproach;   with   heartfelt   wishes   even   for   his 

happinessthe firmness of it; I say; left him no hope。 He appealed to my 

compassion; he appealed to his love for me。 You know what women are。 

I   too  was    soft…heartedI    said;   Very   well:    yes!    In    a  week    more    (I 

tremble as I think of it) we are to be married。' 

     She did really trembleshe was obliged to pause and compose herself; 



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                      THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice 



before she could go on。         The Doctor; waiting for more facts; began to fear 

that he stood committed to a long story。             'Forgive me for reminding you 

that I have suffering persons waiting to see me;' he said。              'The sooner you 

can come to the point; the better for my patients and for me。' 

     The strange smileat once so sad and so cruelshowed itself again on 

the   lady's   lips。 'Every   word   I   have   said   is   to   the   point;'   she   answered。 

'You will see it yourself in a moment more。' 

     She resumed her narrative。 

     'Yesterdayyou   need   fear   no   long   story;   sir;   only   yesterday   I   was 

among   the   visitors   at   one   of   your   English   luncheon   parties。   A   lady;   a 

perfect stranger to me; came in lateafter we had left the table; and had 

retired to the 

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