Читать книгу The Haunted Hotel / Отель с привидениями - Уилки Коллинз, Elizabeth Cleghorn - Страница 11

In the meantime, Mrs. Ferrari went straight from Mr. Troy’s office to Newbury’s Hotel. Lady Montbarry was at home, and alone. In spite of her resolution, Mrs. Ferrari was nervous, when the maid led her into the ante-room, and knocked at the door. A low, grave voice from the inner room said,

‘Come in.’

The maid, opening the door, announced,

‘A person to see you, my lady, on business,’ and immediately retired.

In the one instant, timid little Mrs. Ferrari stood in the presence of Lord Montbarry’s widow.

It was still early in the afternoon, but the light in the room was dim. Lady Montbarry sat with her back to the windows. She looked at the stranger with a moment’s languid curiosity.

‘I don’t know you,’ she said. ‘What do you want with me?’

Mrs. Ferrari tried to answer. Her courage went away. The bold words died on her lips. There was a moment of silence. Lady Montbarry looked again at the speechless stranger.

‘Are you deaf?’ she asked.

There was another pause.

‘Do you want money?’

Money! The courier’s wife recovered her courage.

‘Look at me, my lady, if you please,’ she said.

Lady Montbarry looked at her for the third time. The fatal words passed Mrs. Ferrari’s lips.

‘I come, my lady, to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent to Ferrari’s widow.’

Lady Montbarry’s glittering black eyes rested on the woman. Not the faintest expression of confusion or alarm, not even a momentary flutter of interest. The test was failed.

There was another silence. The smile that came slowly and went away suddenly – the smile at once so sad and so cruel – showed itself on Lady Montbarry’s thin lips. She pointed to a seat at the farther end of the room.

‘Be so good as to take that chair,’ she said.

Mrs. Ferrari mechanically obeyed. Lady Montbarry watched her with undisguised scrutiny.

‘No,’ she said to herself, ‘the woman walks steadily; she is not intoxicated – the only other possibility is that she may be mad.’

She spoke loud enough. Mrs. Ferrari instantly answered her:

‘I am no more drunk or mad than you are!’

‘No?’ said Lady Montbarry. ‘Then you are only insolent? Oh, the ignorant English mind! This is very noticeable to us foreigners among you people in the streets. Of course I can’t be insolent to you, in return. I hardly know what to say to you. I wonder who you are? You mentioned the name of a courier who left us very strangely. Are you his wife? And do you know where he is?’

Mrs. Ferrari advanced to the sofa; she feared nothing.

‘I am his widow – and you know it, you wicked woman! Ah! it was an evil hour when Miss Lockwood recommended my husband to be his lordship’s courier!’

Before she could add another word, Lady Montbarry sprang from the sofa and seized her by both shoulders – and shook her with the strength and frenzy of a madwoman.

‘You lie! you lie! you lie!’ She threw up her hands wildly with a gesture of despair. ‘Oh, Jesu Maria! is it possible?’ she cried. ‘Can the courier have come to me through that woman?’

She stopped Mrs. Ferrari when she was escaping from the room.

‘Stay here, you fool – stay here, and answer me! Sit down – and fear nothing. Wretch! It is I who am frightened. Confess that you lied, when you used Miss Lockwood’s name just now! No! I don’t believe you on your oath; I will believe nobody but Miss Lockwood herself. Where does she live? Tell me that, you noxious little insect – and you may go.’

Mrs. Ferrari was terrified. She hesitated. Lady Montbarry lifted her hands threateningly, with the long, lean fingers, and Mrs. Ferrari gave the address. Lady Montbarry pointed contemptuously to the door – then changed her mind.

‘No! not yet! you will tell Miss Lockwood what has happened, and she may refuse to see me. I will go there at once, and you will go with me. Sit down again. I am going to ring for my maid.’

She rang the bell. The maid appeared.

‘My cloak and bonnet – instantly! A cab at the door – before I can count ten![20]’

The maid vanished. Lady Montbarry told Mrs. Ferrari.

‘I look half dead already, don’t I?’ she said with a grim. ‘Give me your arm.’

She took Mrs. Ferrari’s arm, and left the room. ‘You have nothing to fear, so long as you obey,’ she whispered, on the way downstairs. ‘You leave me at Miss Lockwood’s door, and never see me again.’

In the hall they met the landlady of the hotel. Lady Montbarry graciously presented her companion,

‘My good friend Mrs. Ferrari; I am so glad to see her.’

The landlady accompanied them to the door. The cab was waiting. They drove away. Lady Montbarry preserved a sinister silence, until they reached the house where Miss Lockwood

lodged. She opened the door of the cab, and closed it again.

‘Take that lady a mile farther on her way home!’ she said, as she paid the man his fare.

The next moment she knocked at the house-door.

‘Is Miss Lockwood at home?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

She stepped over the threshold – the door closed on her.

‘Which way, ma’am?’ asked the driver of the cab.

Mrs. Ferrari put her hand to her head, and tried to collect her thoughts. Will she leave her friend and benefactress helpless at Lady Montbarry’s mercy? Which course to follow? Suddenly a gentleman stopped at Miss Lockwood’s door. He looked towards the cab-window, and saw her.

‘Are you going to call on Miss Agnes too?’ he asked.

It was Henry Westwick. Mrs. Ferrari recognised him.

‘Go in, sir!’ she cried. ‘Go in, directly. That dreadful woman is with Miss Agnes. Go and protect her!’

‘What woman?’ Henry asked.

With amazement and indignation in his face, he looked at Mrs. Ferrari as she pronounced the hated name of ‘Lady Montbarry.’

‘I’ll see to it[21],’ was all he said.