the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第34章
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'Let me walk with you for a few minutes；' she quietly replied。 'I have
something to say to you。'
He showed her his cigar。 'I am smoking；'he said。
'I don't mind smoking。'
After that； there was nothing to be done （short of downright brutality）
but to yield。 He did it with the worst possible grace。 'Well？' he resumed。
'What do you want of me？'
'You shall hear directly； Mr。 Westwick。 Let me first tell you what my
position is。 I am alone in the world。 To the loss of my husband has now
been added another bereavement； the loss of my companion in America；
my brotherBaron Rivar。'
The reputation of the Baron； and the doubt which scandal had thrown
on his assumed relationship to the Countess； were well known to Francis。
'Shot in a gambling…saloon？' he asked brutally。
'The question is a perfectly natural one on your part；' she said； with the
impenetrably ironical manner which she could assume on certain
occasions。 'As a native of horse…racing England； you belong to a nation
of gamblers。 My brother died no extraordinary death； Mr。 Westwick。
He sank； with many other unfortunate people； under a fever prevalent in a
Western city which we happened to visit。 The calamity of his loss made
the United States unendurable to me。 I left by the first steamer that sailed
from New Yorka French vessel which brought me to Havre。 I
continued my lonely journey to the South of France。 And then I went on
to Venice。'
'What does all this matter to me？' Francis thought to himself。 She
paused； evidently expecting him to say something。 'So you have come to
Venice？' he said carelessly。 'Why？'
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'Because I couldn't help it；' she answered。
Francis looked at her with cynical curiosity。 'That sounds odd；' he
remarked。 'Why couldn't you help it？'
'Women are accustomed to act on impulse；' she explained。 'Suppose we
say that an impulse has directed my journey？ And yet； this is the last
place in the world that I wish to find myself in。 Associations that I detest
are connected with it in my mind。 If I had a will of my own； I would never
see it again。 I hate Venice。 As you see； however； I am here。 When did
you meet with such an unreasonable woman before？ Never； I am sure！'
She stopped； eyed him for a moment； and suddenly altered her tone。
'When is Miss Agnes Lockwood expected to be in Venice？' she asked。
It was not easy to throw Francis off his balance； but that extraordinary
question did it。 'How the devil did you know that Miss Lockwood was
coming to Venice？' he exclaimed。
She laugheda bitter mocking laugh。 'Say； I guessed it！'
Something in her tone； or perhaps something in the audacious defiance
of her eyes as they rested on him； roused the quick temper that was in
Francis Warwick。 'Lady Montbarry！' he began。
'Stop there！' she interposed。 'Your brother Stephen's wife calls herself
Lady Montbarry now。 I share my title with no woman。 Call me by my
name before I committed the fatal mistake of marrying your brother。
Address me； if you please； as Countess Narona。'
'Countess Narona；' Francis resumed； 'if your object in claiming my
acquaintance is to mystify me； you have come to the wrong man。 Speak
plainly； or permit me to wish you good evening。'
'If your object is to keep Miss Lockwood's arrival in Venice a secret；'
she retorted； 'speak plainly； Mr。 Westwick； on your side； and say so。'
Her intention was evidently to irritate him； and she succeeded。
'Nonsense！' he broke out petulantly。 'My brother's travelling
arrangements are secrets to nobody。 He brings Miss Lockwood here；
with Lady Montbarry and the children。 As you seem so well informed；
perhaps you know why she is coming to Venice？'
The Countess had suddenly become grave and thoughtful。 She made
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no reply。 The two strangely associated companions； having reached one
extremity of the square； were now standing before the church of St。 Mark。
The moonlight was bright enough to show the architecture of the grand
cathedral in its wonderful variety of detail。 Even the pigeons of St。 Mark
were visible； in dark closely packed rows； roosting in the archways of the
great entrance doors。
'I never saw the old church look so beautiful by moonlight；' the
Countess said quietly； speaking； not to Francis； but to herself。 'Good…bye；
St。 Mark's by moonlight！ I shall not see you again。'
She turned away from the church； and saw Francis listening to her
with wondering looks。 'No；' she resumed； placidly picking up the lost
thread of the conversation； 'I don't know why Miss Lockwood is coming
here； I only know that we are to meet in Venice。'
'By previous appointment？'
'By Destiny；' she answered； with her head on her breast； and her eyes
on the ground。 Francis burst out laughing。 'Or； if you like it better；' she
instantly resumed； 'by what fools call Chance。' Francis answered easily；
out of the depths of his strong common sense。 'Chance seems to be taking
a queer way of bringing the meeting about；' he said。 'We have all
arranged to meet at the Palace Hotel。 How is it that your name is not on
the Visitors' List？ Destiny ought to have brought you to the Palace Hotel
too。'
She abruptly pulled down her veil。 'Destiny may do that yet！' she
said。 'The Palace Hotel？' she repeated； speaking once more to herself。 'The
old hell； transformed into the new purgatory。 The place itself！ Jesu Maria！
the place itself！' She paused and laid her hand on her companion's arm。
'Perhaps Miss Lockwood is not going there with the rest of you？' she burst
out with sudden eagerness。 'Are you positively sure she will be at the
hotel？'
'Positively！ Haven't I told you that Miss Lockwood travels with Lord
and Lady Montbarry？ and don't you know that she is a member of the
family？ You will have to move； Countess； to our hotel。'
She was perfectly impenetrable to the bantering tone in which he
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spoke。 'Yes；' she said faintly； 'I shall have to move to your hotel。' Her hand
was still on his armhe could feel her shivering from head to foot while
she spoke。 Heartily as he disliked and distrusted her； the common
instinct of humanity obliged him to ask if she felt cold。
'Yes；' she said。 'Cold and faint。'
'Cold and faint； Countess； on such a night as this？'
'The night has nothing to do with it； Mr。 Westwick。 How do you
suppose the criminal feels on the scaffold； while the hangman is putting
the rope around his neck？ Cold and faint； too； I should think。 Excuse my
grim fancy。 You see； Destiny has got the rope round my neck and I feel
it。'
She loo
