Читать книгу The Haunted Hotel / Отель с привидениями - Уилки Коллинз, Elizabeth Cleghorn - Страница 10

‘Now, my dear, what do you have to say to me? I don’t want to hurry you; but these are business hours, and I have other people’s affairs.’

Addressing Ferrari’s wife, Mr. Troy looked at the watch on his desk, and then waited to hear what his client had to say to him.

‘It’s something more, sir, about the letter with the thousand-pound note,’ Mrs. Ferrari began. ‘I have found out who sent it to me.’

Mr. Troy started. ‘This is news indeed!’ he said. ‘Who sent you the letter?’

‘Lord Montbarry sent it, sir.’

‘Nonsense! There is some mistake – it can’t be!’ he said.

‘There is no mistake,’ Mrs. Ferrari rejoined. ‘Two gentlemen from the insurance offices told me. They heard of the letter and of the bank-note inside. And they know who sent the letter. The doctor in Venice posted it at his lordship’s request. Go to the gentlemen yourself, sir, if you don’t believe me. They asked me why Lord Montbarry had written to me and sent me the money. I said it was like his lordship’s kindness.’

‘Like his lordship’s kindness?’ Mr. Troy repeated, in amazement. ‘A very pretty explanation! What did your visitors from the insurance offices think of it?’

‘They asked if I had any proof of my husband’s death.’

‘And what did you say?’

‘I said, “I give you better than proof, gentlemen; I give you my positive opinion.’

‘That satisfied them, of course?’

‘They didn’t say anything, sir. They looked at each other – and wished me good-morning.’

‘Well, Mrs. Ferrari, I think I shall wish you good-morning too. In the absence of proof, I can do no more.’

‘I can provide you with proof, sir – if that is all you want,’ said Mrs. Ferrari. ‘You probably know that Lady Montbarry has arrived in London, at Newbury’s Hotel. I propose to go and see her.’

‘May I ask for what purpose?’

Mrs. Ferrari answered in a mysterious whisper.

‘For the purpose of catching her in a trap! The first words I say to her will be these: “I come, my lady, to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent to Ferrari’s widow.” And I am going there now, sir. You will hear how it ends. I wish you good-morning.’

With those brave words the courier’s wife gathered her mantle, and walked out of the room. Mr. Troy smiled – not satirically, but compassionately:

‘I wonder how it will end?’