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第37章

the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第37章

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revealed     itself;  she  stopped    him   as  he   turned   towards    the  Riva    degli 

Schiavoni。      'I have something to ask you。 I want to wait and think。' 



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     She recovered her lost idea; after a long pause。 

     'Are you going to sleep in the room to…night?' she asked。 

    He told her that another traveller was in possession of the room that 

night。    'But the manager has reserved it for me to…morrow;' he added; 'if I 

wish to have it。' 

     'No;' she said。    'You must give it up。' 

     'To whom?' 

     'To me!' 

    He started。     'After what I have told you; do you really wish to sleep in 

that room to…morrow night?' 

     'I must sleep in it。' 

     'Are you not afraid?' 

     'I am horribly afraid。' 

     'So I should have thought; after what I have observed in you to…night。 

Why should you take the room? you are not obliged to occupy it; unless 

you like。' 

     'I was not obliged to go to Venice; when I left America;' she answered。 

'And yet I came here。        I must take the room; and keep the room; until' 

She broke off at those words。          'Never mind the rest;' she said。 'It doesn't 

interest you。' 

    It was useless to dispute with her。         Francis changed the subject。 'We 

can do nothing to…night;' he said。        'I will call on you to…morrow morning; 

and hear what you think of it then。' 

     They   moved   on   again   to   the   hotel。 As   they   approached   the   door; 

Francis asked if she was staying in Venice under her own name。 

     She shook her head。        'As your brother's widow; I am known here。 As 

Countess Narona; I am known here。             I want to be unknown; this time; to 

strangers in Venice; I am travelling under a common English name。' She 

hesitated; and stood still。     'What has come to me?' she muttered to herself。 

'Some things I remember; and some I forget。 I forgot Danieli'sand now I 

forget my English name。' She drew him hurriedly into the hall of the hotel; 

on the wall of which hung a list of visitors' names。             Running her finger 

slowly     down    the  list;  she  pointed   to  the  English   name    that  she   had 



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assumed:'Mrs。 James。' 

     'Remember   that   when   you   call   to…morrow;'   she   said。           'My   head   is 

heavy。 Good night。' 

     Francis went back to his own hotel; wondering what the events of the 

next day would bring forth。             A new turn in his affairs had taken place in 

his   absence。      As   he   crossed   the   hall;   he   was   requested   by   one   of   the 

servants   to   walk   into   the   private  office。  The   manager   was   waiting   there 

with a gravely pre…occupied manner; as if he had something serious to say。 

He regretted to hear that Mr。 Francis Westwick had; like other members of 

the family; discovered serious sources of discomfort in the new hotel。 He 

had   been   informed   in   strict   confidence   of   Mr。   Westwick's   extraordinary 

objection to the atmosphere of the bedroom upstairs。 Without presuming 

to discuss the matter; he must beg to be excused from reserving the room 

for Mr。 Westwick after what had happened。 

     Francis   answered   sharply;   a   little   ruffled   by   the   tone   in   which   the 

manager   had   spoken   to   him。        'I   might;   very   possibly;   have   declined   to 

sleep   in   the   room;   if   you   had   reserved   it;'   he   said。   'Do   you   wish   me   to 

leave the hotel?' 

     The   manager   saw   the   error   that   he   had   committed;   and   hastened   to 

repair     it。  'Certainly      not;   sir!   We     will    do   our   best   to   make     you 

comfortable   while   you   stay   with   us。       I   beg   your   pardon;   if   I   have   said 

anything to offend you。           The reputation of an establishment like this is a 

matter   of   very   serious   importance。   May   I   hope   that   you   will   do   us   the 

great favour to say nothing about what has happened upstairs?                         The two 

French gentlemen have kindly promised to keep it a secret。' 

     This     apology     left   Francis    no   polite    alternative     but   to  grant    the 

manager's   request。        'There   is   an   end   to   the   Countess's   wild   scheme;'   he 

thought to himself; as he retired for the night。 'So much the better for the 

Countess!' 

     He rose late the next morning。              Inquiring for his Parisian friends; he 

was   informed   that   both   the   French   gentlemen   had   left   for   Milan。 As   he 

crossed the hall; on his way to the restaurant; he noticed the head porter 

chalking   the   numbers   of   the   rooms   on   some   articles   of   luggage   which 



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were     waiting   to  go   upstairs。   One    trunk   attracted   his  attention   by   the 

extraordinary number of old travelling labels left on it。                The porter was 

marking it at the momentand the number was; '13 A。' Francis instantly 

looked at the card fastened on the lid。          It bore the common English name; 

'Mrs。 James'! He at once inquired about the lady。                She had arrived early 

that   morning;   and   she   was then   in   the   Reading   Room。   Looking   into   the 

room; he discovered a lady in it alone。 Advancing a little nearer; he found 

himself face to face with the Countess。 

     She   was   seated   in   a   dark   corner;   with   her   head   down   and   her   arms 

crossed over her bosom。           'Yes;' she said; in a tone of weary impatience; 

before Francis could speak to her。           'I thought it best not to wait for youI 

determined to get here before anybody else could take the room。' 

     'Have you taken it for long?'         Francis asked。 

     'You told me Miss Lockwood would be here in a week's time。 I have 

taken it for a week。' 

     'What has Miss Lockwood to do with it?' 

     'She has everything to do with itshe must sleep in the room。 I shall 

give the room up to her when she comes here。' 

     Francis began to understand the superstitious purpose that she had in 

view。     'Are you (an educated woman) really of the same opinion as my 

sister's maid!' he exclaimed。         'Assuming your absurd superstition to be a 

serious thing; you are taking the wrong means to prove it true。                   If I and 

my   brother   and   sister   have   seen   nothing;   how   should Agnes   Lockwood 

discover what was not revealed to us? She is only distantly related to the 

Montbarrysshe is only our cousin。' 

     'She was nearer to the heart of the Montbarry who is dead than any of 

you;'   the   Countess   answered   sternly。      'To   the   last   day   of   his   life;   my 

miserable husband repented his desertion of her。 She will see what none of 

you have seenshe shall have the room。' 

     Francis    listened;   utterly   at  a  loss  to  account    for   the  motives    that 

animated      her。    'I   don't   see   what    interest   you    have    in  trying   this 

extraordinary experiment;' he said。 

     'It is my interest not to try it!     It is my interest to fly from Venice; and 



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never set eyes on Agnes Lockwood or any of your family again!' 

     'What prevents you from doing that?' 

     She   started   to   her   feet   and   looked   at   him   wildly。 'I   know   no   more 

what prevents me than you do!' sh

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