The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of o

ially hard morning's work in his consulting-room, and with a formidable list of visits to patients at thei

he Doctor asked

s,

ulting-hours. Tell her what the

told h

el

he won

st in his way; and there was an absurd side to the situation which rathe

inutes, and the matter was too important to wait till to-morrow. There she i

the variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex. A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds a

age at the do

s,

ulting-room. When she gets tired of waiting, you know what to tell her. If she asks when I am expected to return, say tha

y into the hall, followed

ly keen? Whatever the explanation may be, the event that actually happened was beyond all doubt. Exactly as Doctor

to go away without lettin

w and firm. Her fingers closed gently,

nd. She was dressed in dark colours, with perfect taste; she was of middle height, and (apparently) of middle age-say a year or two over thirty. Her lower features-the nose, mouth, and chin-possessed the fineness and delicacy of form which is oftener seen among women of foreign races than among women of English birth. She was unquestionably a handsome person-with the one serious drawback of her ghastly

strong impression of some kind upon

ble women in your time,' she sa

answered, she led the

ingly bright. The radiant light flowed in on her. Her eyes met it unflinchingly, with the steely steadiness of the eyes of an eagle. The smooth pallor of her unwrink

say to him. A curious apathy seemed to have taken possession of this resolute woman. Forced to

till looking straight at the light, she said

t is

ace. Without the slightest outward appearance of agitation,

please, whether I am i

t he had anticipated, judging rashly by appearances? Was the new patient only a hypochondriacal woman, whose malady was a disordered stomach and whose misfo

nswer ready o

of judging everybody by lines and rules of his own laying down. I come to you, because my case is outside of all lines

correctly informed as to his professional position. The capacity which had raised him to fame a

ered. 'Let me try if I can find

her his hand nor his stethoscope could discover anything that was amiss. With the admirable patience and devotion to his art which had distinguished him from the time when he was a student, he still subjected her to one test after another. The result was always the s

ver had a complexion since-and my skin is so delicate, I cannot paint without producing a hideous rash. But that is of no importance. I wanted your opi

rect to say that his professional pride was a little hurt. 'It may

hing eyes, 'Speak plainly,' s

. My art will do much, but not all. For example, something must have occurred-something quite unconnected with the stat

'That is true!' she said eagerly.

larmed you. I can positively discover that there is no physical cause o

m. 'Suppose I tell you?' she said. '

mention names. The

likely think me a fanciful fool when you hear what they are. No matter. I will do my best to content

ords, she began the strangest and wildest conf