the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第40章
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to London by the affairs of his theatre。 He was accompanied on the
journey back； as he had been accompanied on the journey out； by his sister。
Resolved； after passing two nights of terror in the Venetian hotel； never to
enter it again； Mrs。 Norbury asked to be excused from appearing at the
family festival； on the ground of ill…health。 At her age； travelling fatigued
her； and she was glad to take advantage of her brother's escort to return to
England。
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While the talk at the dinner…table flowed easily onward； the evening…
time advanced to nightand it became necessary to think of sending the
children to bed。
As Agnes rose to leave the room； accompanied by the eldest girl； she
observed with surprise that Henry's manner suddenly changed。 He looked
serious and pre…occupied； and when his niece wished him good night； he
abruptly said to her； 'Marian； I want to know what part of the hotel you
sleep in？' Marian； puzzled by the question； answered that she was going
to sleep； as usual； with 'Aunt Agnes。' Not satisfied with that reply； Henry
next inquired whether the bedroom was near the rooms occupied by the
other members of the travelling party。 Answering for the child； and
wondering what Henry's object could possibly be； Agnes mentioned the
polite sacrifice made to her convenience by Mrs。 James。 'Thanks to that
lady's kindness；' she said； 'Marian and I are only on the other side of the
drawing…room。' Henry made no remark； he looked incomprehensibly
discontented as he opened the door for Agnes and her companion to pass
out。 After wishing them good night； he waited in the corridor until he saw
them enter the fatal corner…roomand then he called abruptly to his
brother； 'Come out； Stephen； and let us smoke！'
As soon as the two brothers were at liberty to speak together privately；
Henry explained the motive which had led to his strange inquiries about
the bedrooms。 Francis had informed him of the meeting with the
Countess at Venice； and of all that had followed it； and Henry now
carefully repeated the narrative to his brother in all its details。 'I am not
satisfied；' he added； 'about that woman's purpose in giving up her room。
Without alarming the ladies by telling them what I have just told you； can
you not warn Agnes to be careful in securing her door？'
Lord Montbarry replied； that the warning had been already given by
his wife； and that Agnes might be trusted to take good care of herself and
her little bed…fellow。 For the rest； he looked upon the story of the Countess
and her superstitions as a piece of theatrical exaggeration； amusing enough
in itself； but unworthy of a moment's serious attention。
While the gentlemen were absent from the hotel； the room which had
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been already associated with so many startling circumstances； became the
scene of another strange event in which Lady Montbarry's eldest child was
concerned。
Little Marian had been got ready for bed as usual； and had （so far）
taken hardly any notice of the new room。 As she knelt down to say her
prayers； she happened to look up at that part of the ceiling above her
which was just over the head of the bed。 The next instant she alarmed
Agnes； by starting to her feet with a cry of terror； and pointing to a small
brown spot on one of the white panelled spaces of the carved ceiling。 'It's a
spot of blood！' the child exclaimed。 'Take me away！ I won't sleep here！'
Seeing plainly that it would be useless to reason with her while she
was in the room； Agnes hurriedly wrapped Marian in a dressing…gown； and
carried her back to her mother in the drawing…room。 Here； the ladies did
their best to soothe and reassure the trembling girl。 The effort proved to be
useless； the impression that had been produced on the young and sensitive
mind was not to be removed by persuasion。 Marian could give no
explanation of the panic of terror that had seized her。 She was quite
unable to say why the spot on the ceiling looked like the colour of a spot
of blood。 She only knew that she should die of terror if she saw it again。
Under these circumstances； but one alternative was left。 It was arranged
that the child should pass the night in the room occupied by her two
younger sisters and the nurse。
In half an hour more； Marian was peacefully asleep with her arm
around her sister's neck。 Lady Montbarry went back with Agnes to her
room to see the spot on the ceiling which had so strangely frightened the
child。 It was so small as to be only just perceptible； and it had in all
probability been caused by the carelessness of a workman； or by a
dripping from water accidentally spilt on the floor of the room above。
'I really cannot understand why Marian should place such a shocking
interpretation on such a trifling thing；' Lady Montbarry remarked。
'I suspect the nurse is in some way answerable for what has happened；'
Agnes suggested。 'She may quite possibly have been telling Marian
some tragic nursery story which has left its mischievous impression
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behind it。 Persons in her position are sadly ignorant of the danger of
exciting a child's imagination。 You had better caution the nurse to…
morrow。'
Lady Montbarry looked round the room with admiration。 'Is it not
prettily decorated？' she said。 'I suppose； Agnes； you don't mind sleeping
here by yourself。？'
Agnes laughed。 'I feel so tired；' she replied； 'that I was thinking of
bidding you good…night； instead of going back to the drawing…room。'
Lady Montbarry turned towards the door。 'I see your jewel…case on
the table；' she resumed。 'Don't forget to lock the other door there； in the
dressing…room。'
'I have already seen to it； and tried the key myself；' said Agnes。 'Can I
be of any use to you before I go to bed？'
'No； my dear； thank you； I feel sleepy enough to follow your example。
Good night； Agnesand pleasant dreams on your first night in Venice。'
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CHAPTER XXII
Having closed and secured the door on Lady Montbarry's departure；
Agnes put on her dressing…gown； and； turning to her open boxes； began
the business of unpacking。 In the hurry of making her toilet for dinner；
she had taken the first dress that lay uppermost in the trunk； and had
thrown her travelling costume on the bed。 She now opened the doors of
the wardrobe for the first time； and began to hang her dresses on the hooks
in the large compartment on one side。
After a few minutes only of this occupation； she grew weary of it； and
decided on leaving the trunks as they were； until the next mor
