The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

f the report, with closed doors. These were the terms in which the Commi

e on December 6, 1860. On the same day we proceeded to the palace in

y attendant throughout his illness," the Baron informed us. "She is overwhelmed by grief and fatigue-or she would have

ircumstances which had attended it, than could be conveyed in writing. We explained that the law provided for the lapse of a certain interval of time before the payment of the sum assured, and

d I and the palace are entirely at your disposal." From first to last we found

ber, at one extremity of the palace, in which his lordship died, and the small room communicating with it, which he used as a study. Next to this was a large apartment or hall, the doors of which he habitually kept locked, his object being (as we were informed) to pursue his studies uninterruptedly in perfect

m and bedroom occupied by Baron Rivar, and another room at some di

ion of great neglect. We inquired if there was anything to be seen below the basement-and we w

and the openings of which, high above the ground, were protected by iron gratings. The stone stairs leading down into the vaults could be closed at will by a heavy trap-door in the back hall, which we found open. The Baron himself led the way down the stairs. We remarked that it might be awkward if that trap-door fell do

re all there to speak for themselves, together with some packages of chemicals, having the name and address of the person who had supplied them plainly visible on their labels. "Not a pleasant place for study," Baron Rivar observed, "but my sister is timid. She has a horror of chemical smells and explosions-and she has banished me to th

hip's own room-on a subsequent occasion, when she went out to take the air. Our instructions recommended us to examine his lordship's residence, because the extreme privacy of his life

effect on sending his card to the consul, to excuse himself from personally returning that gentleman's visit to the palace. We have seen the letter, and we beg to offer the following copy of it. "Many years passed in India have injured my constitution. I have ceased to go into society; the one occupation of my life now is the study of Oriental literature. The air of Italy is better for me t

ked the Continent, and wished to get back to her own country. This is not an uncommon result of taking English servants to foreign parts. Lady Montbarry has informed us that she

thrown the smallest light on this event, or has justified us in associating it, directly or indirectly, with the object of our inquiry. We have even gone the length of examining the portmantea

e restaurant who has supplied the meals to the family throughout the period of their residence at the palace. Her character is most favourably spoken of. Unfortunately, her limited intelligence makes

be quite at a loss to understand what we wanted with her. Baron Rivar, who introduced us, explained the nature of our errand in Venice, and took pai

his lordship's illness. The answers, given with great nervousness of manner, but

wn doctor in such a trifling matter as a cold. Some hot lemonade was made at his request, with a view to producing perspiration. Lady Montbarry's maid having left her at that time, the courier Ferrari (then the only servant in the house) went out to buy the lemons. Her ladyship made the drink with her own hands. It was successful in producing

yance and alarm caused by Ferrari's mysterious disappearance. It had been impossible to conceal the circumstance, as his lordship rang repeate

or. He still refused. "I don't want strange faces about me; my cold will run its course, in spite of the doctor,"-that was his answer. On the 17th he was so much worse that it was decided to send for medical help whether he liked it or not. Baron Rivar,

tatements made by Lady Montbarry. The narrative will now be most fitly

presence of a medical man at his bedside. Generally speaking, he appeared to be in a delicate state of health. His nervous system was out of order-he was at once timid and contradictory. When I spoke to him in Englis

prescriptions (with translation into English) accompany t

induce her to accept the services of a competent nurse; she would allow nobody to attend on her husband but herself. Night and day this estimable woman was at his bedside. In her brief intervals of repose, her brother watched the sick man in her place. This brother was, I must say, very goo

om my subject. Let me r

monia-that is to say, in unmedical language, inflammation of the substance of the lungs. He breathed with difficulty, and was only partially able to relieve himself by coughing. I made the strictest inquiries, and was assured that his medicine had been administered as carefull

sent a special messenger for the great man. He arrived on the evening of the 21st, and confirmed my opinion that pneumonia had set in, and that our patient's life was in danger. I told him what my treatment of

ncing, set our utmost resistance at defiance. In the morning Doctor Torello took his leave. '

I am informed that there are serious reasons for my stating what passed between u

vely sure.' He waited a little, gasping for breath, and then he whispered again, 'Feel under my pillow.' I found under his pillow a letter, sealed and stamped, ready for the post. His next words were just audible and no more-'Post it yourself.' I

the next morning, that I had posted the letter. This was his last effort of consciousness. When I saw him again he was sunk in apathy. He

was the malady of which he expired, than that two and two make four. Doctor Torello's own note of the case is added here to a duplicate of my certificate, in order (as I am informed) to satisfy so

no's eviden

it a secret from Lady Montbarry (and from the Baron also); and why he should write at all to the wife of his courier? these are questions to which we find it simply impossible to obtain any replies. It seems even useless to say that the matter is open to suspicio

e have now to draw your attention to the conclusion w

customary establishment of servants in the house, and the mysterious letter which his lordship asked the doctor to post. But where is the proof that any one of these circumstances is associated-suspiciously and directly associated-with the only event which concerns us, the event of Lord Montbarry's death? In the absence of any

leaving time to receive your further instructions (if any), in reply to