Henryonlyobtainedoneofthesmallroomsontheupperfloor，byaluckyaccident——theabsenceofthegentlemanwhohadwrittentoengageit。Hewasquitesatisfied，andwasonhiswaytobed，whenanotheraccidentalteredhisprospectsforthenight，andmovedhimintoanotherandabetterroom。
Ascendingonhiswaytothehigherregionsasfarasthefirstfloorofthehotel，Henry’sattentionwasattractedbyanangryvoiceprotesting，inastrongNewEnglandaccent，againstoneofthegreatesthardshipsthatcanbeinflictedonacitizenoftheUnitedStates——
thehardshipofsendinghimtobedwithoutgasinhisroom。
TheAmericansarenotonlythemosthospitablepeopletobefoundonthefaceoftheearth——theyare（undercertainconditions）
themostpatientandgood-temperedpeopleaswell。Buttheyarehuman；
andthelimitofAmericanenduranceisfoundintheobsoleteinstitutionofabedroomcandle。TheAmericantraveller，inthepresentcase，declinedtobelievethathisbedroomwasinacompletefinishedstatewithoutagas-burner。Themanagerpointedtothefineantiquedecorations（renewedandregilt）onthewallsandtheceiling，andexplainedthattheemanationsofburninggas-lightwouldcertainlyspoiltheminthecourseofafewmonths。Tothisthetravellerrepliedthatitwaspossible，butthathedidnotunderstanddecorations。
Abedroomwithgasinitwaswhathewasusedto，waswhathewanted，andwaswhathewasdeterminedtohave。Thecompliantmanagervolunteeredtoasksomeothergentleman，housedontheinferiorupperstorey（whichwaslitthroughoutwithgas），tochangerooms。
Hearingthis，andbeingquitewillingtoexchangeasmallbedchamberforalargeone，Henryvolunteeredtobetheothergentleman。
TheexcellentAmericanshookhandswithhimonthespot。’Youareaculturedperson，sir，’hesaid；’andyouwillnodoubtunderstandthedecorations。’
Henrylookedatthenumberoftheroomonthedoorasheopenedit。
ThenumberwasFourteen。
Tiredandsleepy，henaturallyanticipatedagoodnight’srest。
Inthethoroughlyhealthystateofhisnervoussystem，hesleptaswellinabedabroadasinabedathome。Withouttheslightestassignablereason，however，hisjustexpectationsweredisappointed。
Theluxuriousbed，thewell-ventilatedroom，thedelicioustranquillityofVenicebynight，allwereinfavourofhissleepingwell。
Heneversleptatall。Anindescribablesenseofdepressionanddiscomfortkepthimwakingthroughdarknessanddaylightalike。
Hewentdowntothecoffee-roomassoonasthehotelwasastir，andorderedsomebreakfast。Anotherunaccountablechangeinhimselfappearedwiththeappearanceofthemeal。Hewasabsolutelywithoutappetite。Anexcellentomelette，andcutletscookedtoperfection，hesentawayuntasted——he，whoseappetiteneverfailedhim，whosedigestionwasstillequaltoanydemandsonit！
Thedaywasbrightandfine。Hesentforagondola，andwasrowedtotheLido。
OutontheairyLagoon，hefeltlikeanewman。Hehadnotleftthehoteltenminutesbeforehewasfastasleepinthegondola。
Waking，onreachingthelanding-place，hecrossedtheLido，andenjoyedamorning’sswimintheAdriatic。Therewasonlyapoorrestaurantontheisland，inthosedays；buthisappetitewasnowreadyforanything；heatewhateverwasofferedtohim，likeafamishedman。
Hecouldhardlybelieve，whenhereflectedonit，thathehadsentawayuntastedhisexcellentbreakfastatthehotel。
ReturningtoVenice，hespenttherestofthedayinthepicture-galleriesandthechurches。Towardssixo’clockhisgondolatookhimback，withanotherfineappetite，tomeetsometravellingacquaintanceswithwhomhehadengagedtodineatthetabled’hote。
Thedinnerwasdeservedlyrewardedwiththehighestapprovalbyeveryguestinthehotelbutone。ToHenry’sastonishment，theappetitewithwhichhehadenteredthehousemysteriouslyandcompletelylefthimwhenhesatdowntotable。Hecoulddrinksomewine，buthecouldliterallyeatnothing。’Whatintheworldisthematterwithyou？’
histravellingacquaintancesasked。Hecouldhonestlyanswer，’Iknownomorethanyoudo。’
Whennightcame，hegavehiscomfortableandbeautifulbedroomanothertrial。Theresultofthesecondexperimentwasarepetitionoftheresultofthefirst。Againhefelttheall-pervadingsenseofdepressionanddiscomfort。Againhepassedasleeplessnight。
Andoncemore，whenhetriedtoeathisbreakfast，hisappetitecompletelyfailedhim！
Thispersonalexperienceofthenewhotelwastooextraordinarytobepassedoverinsilence。Henrymentionedittohisfriendsinthepublicroom，inthehearingofthemanager。Themanager，naturallyzealousindefenceofthehotel，wasalittlehurtattheimpliedreflectioncastonNumberFourteen。HeinvitedthetravellerspresenttojudgeforthemselveswhetherMr。Westwick’sbedroomwastoblameforMr。Westwick’ssleeplessnights；andheespeciallyappealedtoagrey-headedgentleman，aguestatthebreakfast-tableofanEnglishtraveller，totaketheleadintheinvestigation。
’ThisisDoctorBruno，ourfirstphysicianinVenice，’heexplained。
’IappealtohimtosayifthereareanyunhealthyinfluencesinMr。Westwick’sroom。’
IntroducedtoNumberFourteen，thedoctorlookedroundhimwithacertainappearanceofinterestwhichwasnoticedbyeveryonepresent。’ThelasttimeIwasinthisroom，’hesaid，’wasonamelancholyoccasion。
Itwasbeforethepalacewaschangedintoanhotel。IwasinprofessionalattendanceonanEnglishnoblemanwhodiedhere。’
Oneofthepersonspresentinquiredthenameofthenobleman。
DoctorBrunoanswered（withouttheslightestsuspicionthathewasspeakingbeforeabrotherofthedeadman），’LordMontbarry。’
Henryquietlylefttheroom，withoutsayingawordtoanybody。
Hewasnot，inanysenseoftheterm，asuperstitiousman。Buthefelt，nevertheless，aninsurmountablereluctancetoremaininginthehotel。
HedecidedonleavingVenice。Toaskforanotherroomwouldbe，ashecouldplainlysee，anoffenceintheeyesofthemanager。
Toremovetoanotherhotel，wouldbetoopenlyabandonanestablishmentinthesuccessofwhichhehadapecuniaryinterest。
LeavinganoteforArthurBarville，onhisarrivalinVenice，inwhichhemerelymentionedthathehadgonetolookattheItalianlakes，andthatalineaddressedtohishotelatMilanwouldbringhimbackagain，hetooktheafternoontraintoPadua——
anddinedwithhisusualappetite，andsleptaswellaseverthatnight。
Thenextday，agentlemanandhiswife（perfectstrangerstotheMontbarryfamily），returningtoEnglandbywayofVenice，arrivedatthehotelandoccupiedNumberFourteen。
Stillmindfuloftheslurthathadbeencastononeofhisbestbedchambers，themanagertookoccasiontoaskthetravellersthenextmorninghowtheylikedtheirroom。Theylefthimtojudgeforhimselfhowwelltheyweresatisfied，byremainingadaylongerinVenicethantheyhadoriginallyplannedtodo，solelyforthepurposeofenjoyingtheexcellentaccommodationofferedtothembythenewhotel。’WehavemetwithnothinglikeitinItaly，’
theysaid；’youmayrelyonourrecommendingyoutoallourfriends。’
OnthedaywhenNumberFourteenwasagainvacant，anEnglishladytravellingalonewithhermaidarrivedatthehotel，sawtheroom，andatonceengagedit。
TheladywasMrs。Norbury。ShehadleftFrancisWestwickatMilan，occupiedinnegotiatingfortheappearanceathistheatreofthenewdancerattheScala。Nothavingheardtothecontrary，Mrs。NorburysupposedthatArthurBarvilleandhiswifehadalreadyarrivedatVenice。Shewasmoreinterestedinmeetingtheyoungmarriedcouplethaninawaitingtheresultofthehardbargainingwhichdelayedtheengagementofthenewdancer；andshevolunteeredtomakeherbrother’sapologies，ifhistheatricalbusinesscausedhimtobelateinkeepinghisappointmentatthehoneymoonfestival。
Mrs。Norbury’sexperienceofNumberFourteendifferedentirelyfromherbrotherHenry’sexperienceoftheroom。
Failingasleepasreadilyasusual，herreposewasdisturbedbyasuccessionoffrightfuldreams；thecentralfigureineveryoneofthembeingthefigureofherdeadbrother，thefirstLordMontbarry。Shesawhimstarvinginaloathsomeprison；
shesawhimpursuedbyassassins，anddyingundertheirknives；
shesawhimdrowninginimmeasurabledepthsofdarkwater；shesawhiminabedonfire，burningtodeathintheflames；shesawhimtemptedbyashadowycreaturetodrink，anddyingofthepoisonousdraught。
Thereiteratedhorrorofthesedreamshadsuchaneffectonherthatsherosewiththedawnofday，afraidtotrustherselfagaininbed。
Intheoldtimes，shehadbeennotedinthefamilyastheonememberofitwholivedonaffectionatetermswithMontbarry。
Hisothersisterandhisbrotherswereconstantlyquarrellingwithhim。
Evenhismotherownedthathereldestsonwasofallherchildrenthechildwhomsheleastliked。Sensibleandresolutewomanasshewas，Mrs。Norburyshudderedwithterrorasshesatatthewindowofherroom，watchingthesunrise，andthinkingofherdreams。
Shemadethefirstexcusethatoccurredtoher，whenhermaidcameinattheusualhour，andnoticedhowillshelooked。
Thewomanwasofsosuperstitiousatemperamentthatitwouldhavebeeninthelastdegreeindiscreettotrustherwiththetruth。
Mrs。Norburymerelyremarkedthatshehadnotfoundthebedquitetoherliking，onaccountofthelargesizeofit。
Shewasaccustomedathome，ashermaidknew，tosleepinasmallbed。
Informedofthisobjectionlaterintheday，themanagerregrettedthathecouldonlyoffertotheladythechoiceofoneotherbedchamber，numberedThirty-eight，andsituatedimmediatelyoverthebedchamberwhichshedesiredtoleave。Mrs。Norburyacceptedtheproposedchangeofquarters。ShewasnowabouttopasshersecondnightintheroomoccupiedintheolddaysofthepalacebyBaronRivar。
Oncemore，shefellasleepasusual。And，oncemore，thefrightfuldreamsofthefirstnightterrifiedher，followingeachotherinthesamesuccession。Thistimehernerves，alreadyshaken，werenotequaltotherenewedtortureofterrorinflictedonthem。
Shethrewonherdressing-gown，andrushedoutofherroominthemiddleofthenight。Theporter，alarmedbythebangingofthedoor，metherhurryingheadlongdownthestairs，insearchofthefirsthumanbeingshecouldfindtokeephercompany。
Considerablysurprisedatthislastnewmanifestationofthefamous’Englisheccentricity，’themanlookedatthehotelregister，andledtheladyupstairsagaintotheroomoccupiedbyhermaid。
Themaidwasnotasleep，and，morewonderfulstill，wasnotevenundressed。Shereceivedhermistressquietly。Whentheywerealone，andwhenMrs。Norburyhad，asamatterofnecessity，takenherattendantintoherconfidence，thewomanmadeaverystrangereply。
’Ihavebeenaskingaboutthehotel，attheservants’
supperto-night，’shesaid。’ThevaletofoneofthegentlemenstayingherehasheardthatthelateLordMontbarrywasthelastpersonwholivedinthepalace，beforeitwasmadeintoanhotel。
Theroomhediedin，ma’am，wastheroomyousleptinlastnight。
Yourroomtonightistheroomjustaboveit。Isaidnothingforfearoffrighteningyou。Formyownpart，Ihavepassedthenightasyousee，keepingmylighton，andreadingmyBible。Inmyopinion，nomemberofyourfamilycanhopetobehappyorcomfortableinthishouse。’
’Whatdoyoumean？’
’Pleasetoletmeexplainmyself，ma’am。WhenMr。HenryWestwickwashere（Ihavethisfromthevalet，too）heoccupiedtheroomhisbrotherdiedin（withoutknowingit），likeyou。
Fortwonightsheneverclosedhiseyes。Withoutanyreasonforit（thevaletheardhimtellthegentlemeninthecoffee-room）
hecouldnotsleep；hefeltsolowandsowretchedinhimself。
Andwhatismore，whendaytimecame，hecouldn’teveneatwhilehewasunderthisroofYoumaylaughatme，ma’am——butevenaservantmaydrawherownconclusions。It’smyconclusionthatsomethinghappenedtomylord，whichwenoneofusknowabout，whenhediedinthishouse。Hisghostwalksintormentuntilhecantellit——
andthelivingpersonsrelatedtohimarethepersonswhofeelheisnearthem。Thosepersonsmayyetseehiminthetimetocome。
Don’t，praydon’tstayanylongerinthisdreadfulplace！Iwouldn’tstayanothernightheremyself——no，notforanythingthatcouldbeofferedme！’
Mrs。Norburyatoncesetherservant’smindateaseonthislastpoint。
’Idon’tthinkaboutitasyoudo，’shesaidgravely。
’ButIshouldliketospeaktomybrotherofwhathashappened。
WewillgobacktoMilan。’
Somehoursnecessarilyelapsedbeforetheycouldleavethehotel，bythefirsttrainintheforenoon。
Inthatinterval，Mrs。Norbury’smaidfoundanopportunityofconfidentiallyinformingthevaletofwhathadpassedbetweenhermistressandherself。Thevalethadotherfriendstowhomherelatedthecircumstancesinhisturn。Induecourseoftime，thenarrative，passingfrommouthtomouth，reachedtheearsofthemanager。
Heinstantlysawthatthecreditofthehotelwasindanger，unlesssomethingwasdonetoretrievethecharacteroftheroomnumberedFourteen。Englishtravellers，wellacquaintedwiththepeerageoftheirnativecountry，informedhimthatHenryWestwickandMrs。NorburywerebynomeanstheonlymembersoftheMontbarryfamily。
Curiositymightbringmoreofthemtothehotel，afterhearingwhathadhappened。Themanager’singenuityeasilyhitontheobviousmeansofmisleadingthem，inthiscase。Thenumbersofalltheroomswereenamelledinblue，onwhitechinaplates，screwedtothedoors。
Heorderedanewplatetobeprepared，bearingthenumber，’13A’；
andhekepttheroomempty，afteritstenantforthetimebeinghadgoneaway，untiltheplatewasready。Hethenre-numberedtheroom；
placingtheremovedNumberFourteenonthedoorofhisownroom（onthesecondfloor），which，notbeingtolet，hadnotpreviouslybeennumberedatall。Bythisdevice，NumberFourteendisappearedatonceandforeverfromthebooksofthehotel，asthenumberofabedroomtolet。
Havingwarnedtheservantstobewareofgossipingwithtravellers，onthesubjectofthechangednumbers，underpenaltyofbeingdismissed，themanagercomposedhismindwiththereflectionthathehaddonehisdutytohisemployers。’Now，’hethoughttohimself，withanexcusablesenseoftriumph，’letthewholefamilycomehereiftheylike！
Thehotelisamatchforthem。’
CHAPTERXVIII
Beforetheendoftheweek，themanagerfoundhimselfinrelationswith’thefamily’oncemore。AtelegramfromMilanannouncedthatMr。FrancisWestwickwouldarriveinVeniceonthenextday；
andwouldbeobligedifNumberFourteen，onthefirstfloor，couldbereservedforhim，intheeventofitsbeingvacantatthetime。
Themanagerpausedtoconsider，beforeheissuedhisdirections。
There-numberedroomhadbeenlastlettoaFrenchgentleman。
ItwouldbeoccupiedonthedayofMr。FrancisWestwick’sarrival，butitwouldbeemptyagainonthedayafter。WoulditbewelltoreservetheroomforthespecialoccupationofMr。Francis？andwhenhehadpassedthenightunsuspiciouslyandcomfortablyin’No。13A，’
toaskhiminthepresenceofwitnesseshowhelikedhisbedchamber？
Inthiscase，ifthereputationoftheroomhappenedtobecalledinquestionagain，theanswerwouldvindicateit，ontheevidenceofamemberoftheveryfamilywhichhadfirstgivenNumberFourteenabadname。Afteralittlereflection，themanagerdecidedontryingtheexperiment，anddirectedthat’13A’shouldbereservedaccordingly。
Onthenextday，FrancisWestwickarrivedinexcellentspirits。
HehadsignedagreementswiththemostpopulardancerinItaly；
hehadtransferredthechargeofMrs。NorburytohisbrotherHenry，whohadjoinedhiminMilan；andhewasnowatfulllibertytoamusehimselfbytestingineverypossiblewaytheextraordinaryinfluenceexercisedoverhisrelativesbythenewhotel。Whenhisbrotherandsisterfirsttoldhimwhattheirexperiencehadbeen，heinstantlydeclaredthathewouldgotoVeniceintheinterestofhistheatre。
Thecircumstancesrelatedtohimcontainedinvaluablehintsforaghost-drama。Thetitleoccurredtohimintherailway：
’TheHauntedHotel。’Postthatinredletterssixfeethigh，onablackground，alloverLondon——andtrusttheexcitablepublictocrowdintothetheatre！
Receivedwiththepolitestattentionbythemanager，Francismetwithadisappointmentonenteringthehotel。’Somemistake，sir。
NosuchroomonthefirstfloorasNumberFourteen。Theroombearingthatnumberisonthesecondfloor，andhasbeenoccupiedbyme，fromthedaywhenthehotelopened。Perhapsyoumeantnumber13A，onthefirstfloor？Itwillbeatyourserviceto-morrow——
acharmingroom。Inthemeantime，wewilldothebestwecanforyou，to-night。’
Amanwhoisthesuccessfulmanagerofatheatreisprobablythelastmaninthecivilizeduniversewhoiscapableofbeingimpressedwithfavourableopinionsofhisfellow-creatures。
Francisprivatelysetthemanagerdownasahumbug，andthestoryaboutthenumberingoftheroomsasalie。
Onthedayofhisarrival，hedinedbyhimselfintherestaurant，beforethehourofthetabled’hote，fortheexpresspurposeofquestioningthewaiter，withoutbeingoverheardbyanybody。Theanswerledhimtotheconclusionthat’13A’occupiedthesituationinthehotelwhichhadbeendescribedbyhisbrotherandsisterasthesituationof’14。’
HeaskednextfortheVisitors’List；andfoundthattheFrenchgentlemanwhothenoccupied’13A，’wastheproprietorofatheatreinParis，personallywellknowntohim。Wasthegentlemantheninthehotel？
Hehadgoneout，butwouldcertainlyreturnforthetabled’hote。
Whenthepublicdinnerwasover，Francisenteredtheroom，andwaswelcomedbyhisParisiancolleague，literally，withopenarms。
’Comeandhaveacigarinmyroom，’saidthefriendlyFrenchman。
’IwanttohearwhetheryouhavereallyengagedthatwomanatMilanornot。’Inthiseasyway，FrancisfoundhisopportunityofcomparingtheinterioroftheroomwiththedescriptionwhichhehadheardofitatMilan。
Arrivingatthedoor，theFrenchmanbethoughthimselfofhistravellingcompanion。’Myscene-painterisherewithme，’hesaid，’onthelook-outformaterials。Anexcellentfellow，whowilltakeitasakindnessifweaskhimtojoinus。I’lltelltheportertosendhimupwhenhecomesin。’HehandedthekeyofhisroomtoFrancis。
’Iwillbebackinaminute。It’sattheendofthecorridor——
13A。’
Francisenteredtheroomalone。Therewerethedecorationsonthewallsandtheceiling，exactlyastheyhadbeendescribedtohim！
Hehadjusttimetoperceivethisataglance，beforehisattentionwasdivertedtohimselfandhisownsensations，byagrotesquelydisagreeableoccurrencewhichtookhimcompletelybysurprise。
Hebecameconsciousofamysteriouslyoffensiveodourintheroom，entirelynewinhisexperienceofrevoltingsmells。Itwascomposed（ifsuchathingcouldbe）oftwominglingexhalations，whichwereseparately-discoverableexhalationsnevertheless。
Thisstrangeblendingofodoursconsistedofsomethingfaintlyandunpleasantlyaromatic，mixedwithanotherunderlyingsmell，sounutterablysickeningthathethrewopenthewindow，andputhisheadoutintothefreshair，unabletoendurethehorriblyinfectedatmosphereforamomentlonger。
TheFrenchproprietorjoinedhisEnglishfriend，withhiscigaralreadylit。Hestartedbackindismayatasightterribletohiscountrymeningeneral——thesightofanopenwindow。’YouEnglishpeopleareperfectlymadonthesubjectoffreshair！’heexclaimed。
’Weshallcatchourdeathsofcold。’
Francisturned，andlookedathiminastonishment。’Areyoureallynotawareofthesmellthereisintheroom？’heasked。
’Smell！’repeatedhisbrother-manager。’Ismellmyowngoodcigar。
Tryoneyourself。AndforHeaven’ssakeshutthewindow！’
Francisdeclinedthecigarbyasign。’Forgiveme，’hesaid。
’Iwillleaveyoutoclosethewindow。Ifeelfaintandgiddy——
Ihadbettergoout。’Heputhishandkerchiefoverhisnoseandmouth，andcrossedtheroomtothedoor。
TheFrenchmanfollowedthemovementsofFrancis，insuchastateofbewildermentthatheactuallyforgottoseizetheopportunityofshuttingoutthefreshair。’Isitsonastyasthat？’heasked，withabroadstareofamazement。
’Horrible！’Francismutteredbehindhishandkerchief。
’Ineversmeltanythinglikeitinmylife！’
Therewasaknockatthedoor。Thescene-painterappeared。
Hisemployerinstantlyaskedhimifhesmeltanything。
’Ismellyourcigar。Delicious！Givemeonedirectly！’
’Waitaminute。Besidesmycigar，doyousmellanythingelse——vile，abominable，overpowering，indescribable，never-never-never-smeltbefore？’
Thescene-painterappearedtobepuzzledbythevehementenergyofthelanguageaddressedtohim。’Theroomisasfreshandsweetasaroomcanbe，’heanswered。Ashespoke，helookedbackwithastonishmentatFrancisWestwick，standingoutsideinthecorridor，andeyeingtheinteriorofthebedchamberwithanexpressionofundisguiseddisgust。
TheParisiandirectorapproachedhisEnglishcolleague，andlookedathimwithgraveandanxiousscrutiny。
’Yousee，myfriend，herearetwoofus，withasgoodnosesasyours，whosmellnothing。Ifyouwantevidencefrommorenoses，lookthere！’
HepointedtotwolittleEnglishgirls，atplayinthecorridor。
’Thedoorofmyroomiswideopen——andyouknowhowfastasmellcantravel。Nowlisten，whileIappealtotheseinnocentnoses，inthelanguageoftheirowndismalisland。Mylittleloves，doyousniffanastysmellhere——ha？’Thechildrenburstoutlaughing，andansweredemphatically，’No。’’MygoodWestwick，’theFrenchmanresumed，inhisownlanguage，’theconclusionissurelyplain？
Thereissomethingwrong，verywrong，withyourownnose。Irecommendyoutoseeamedicalman。’
Havinggiventhatadvice，hereturnedtohisroom，andshutoutthehorridfreshairwithaloudexclamationofrelief。
Francisleftthehotel，bythelanesthatledtotheSquareofSt。Mark。
Thenight-breezesoonrevivedhim。Hewasabletolightacigar，andtothinkquietlyoverwhathadhappened。
CHAPTERXIX
Avoidingthecrowdunderthecolonnades，Franciswalkedslowlyupanddownthenobleopenspaceofthesquare，bathedinthelightoftherisingmoon。
Withoutbeingawareofithimself，hewasathoroughmaterialist。
Thestrangeeffectproducedonhimbytheroom——followingontheotherstrangeeffectsproducedontheotherrelativesofhisdeadbrother——
exercisednoperplexinginfluenceoverthemindofthissensibleman。
’Perhaps，’hereflected，’mytemperamentismoreimaginativethanI
supposedittobe——andthisisatrickplayedonmebymyownfancy？
Or，perhaps，myfriendisright；somethingisphysicallyamisswithme？
Idon’tfeelill，certainly。Butthatisnosafecriterionsometimes。
Iamnotgoingtosleepinthatabominableroomto-night——
Icanwellwaittillto-morrowtodecidewhetherIshallspeaktoadoctorornot。Inthemeantime，thehoteldoesn’tseemlikelytosupplymewiththesubjectofapiece。Aterriblesmellfromaninvisibleghostisaperfectlynewidea。Butithasonedrawback。
IfIrealiseitonthestage，Ishalldrivetheaudienceoutofthetheatre。’
Ashisstrongcommonsensearrivedatthisfacetiousconclusion，hebecameawareofalady，dressedentirelyinblack，whowasobservinghimwithmarkedattention。’AmIrightinsupposingyoutobeMr。FrancisWestwick？’theladyasked，atthemomentwhenhelookedather。
’Thatismyname，madam。MayIinquiretowhomIhavethehonourofspeaking？’
’Wehaveonlymetonce，’sheansweredalittleevasively，’whenyourlatebrotherintroducedmetothemembersofhisfamily。Iwonderifyouhavequiteforgottenmybigblackeyesandmyhideouscomplexion？’
Sheliftedherveilasshespoke，andturnedsothatthemoonlightrestedonherface。
Francisrecognisedataglancethewomanofallotherswhomhemostcordiallydisliked——thewidowofhisdeadbrother，thefirstLordMontbarry。Hefrownedashelookedather。
Hisexperienceonthestage，gatheredatinnumerablerehearsalswithactresseswhohadsorelytriedhistemper，hadaccustomedhimtospeakroughlytowomenwhoweredistastefultohim。
’Irememberyou，’hesaid。’IthoughtyouwereinAmerica！’
Shetooknonoticeofhisungracioustoneandmanner；shesimplystoppedhimwhenheliftedhishat，andturnedtoleaveher。
’Letmewalkwithyouforafewminutes，’shequietlyreplied。
’Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou。’
Heshowedherhiscigar。’Iamsmoking，’hesaid。
’Idon’tmindsmoking。’
Afterthat，therewasnothingtobedone（shortofdownrightbrutality）
buttoyield。Hediditwiththeworstpossiblegrace。
’Well？’heresumed。’Whatdoyouwantofme？’
’Youshallheardirectly，Mr。Westwick。Letmefirsttellyouwhatmypositionis。Iamaloneintheworld。
Tothelossofmyhusbandhasnowbeenaddedanotherbereavement，thelossofmycompanioninAmerica，mybrother——BaronRivar。’
ThereputationoftheBaron，andthedoubtwhichscandalhadthrownonhisassumedrelationshiptotheCountess，werewellknowntoFrancis。
’Shotinagambling-saloon？’heaskedbrutally。
’Thequestionisaperfectlynaturaloneonyourpart，’shesaid，withtheimpenetrablyironicalmannerwhichshecouldassumeoncertainoccasions。’Asanativeofhorse-racingEngland，youbelongtoanationofgamblers。Mybrotherdiednoextraordinarydeath，Mr。Westwick。Hesank，withmanyotherunfortunatepeople，underafeverprevalentinaWesterncitywhichwehappenedtovisit。
ThecalamityofhislossmadetheUnitedStatesunendurabletome。
IleftbythefirststeamerthatsailedfromNewYork——aFrenchvesselwhichbroughtmetoHavre。IcontinuedmylonelyjourneytotheSouthofFrance。AndthenIwentontoVenice。’
’Whatdoesallthismattertome？’Francisthoughttohimself。
Shepaused，evidentlyexpectinghimtosaysomething。’SoyouhavecometoVenice？’hesaidcarelessly。’Why？’
’BecauseIcouldn’thelpit，’sheanswered。
Francislookedatherwithcynicalcuriosity。’Thatsoundsodd，’
heremarked。’Whycouldn’tyouhelpit？’
’Womenareaccustomedtoactonimpulse，’sheexplained。
’Supposewesaythatanimpulsehasdirectedmyjourney？Andyet，thisisthelastplaceintheworldthatIwishtofindmyselfin。
AssociationsthatIdetestareconnectedwithitinmymind。
IfIhadawillofmyown，Iwouldneverseeitagain。
IhateVenice。Asyousee，however，Iamhere。Whendidyoumeetwithsuchanunreasonablewomanbefore？Never，Iamsure！’
Shestopped，eyedhimforamoment，andsuddenlyalteredhertone。
’WhenisMissAgnesLockwoodexpectedtobeinVenice？’
sheasked。
ItwasnoteasytothrowFrancisoffhisbalance，butthatextraordinaryquestiondidit。’HowthedevildidyouknowthatMissLockwoodwascomingtoVenice？’heexclaimed。
Shelaughed——abittermockinglaugh。’Say，Iguessedit！’
Somethinginhertone，orperhapssomethingintheaudaciousdefianceofhereyesastheyrestedonhim，rousedthequicktemperthatwasinFrancisWarwick。’LadyMontbarry——！’hebegan。
’Stopthere！’sheinterposed。’YourbrotherStephen’swifecallsherselfLadyMontbarrynow。Isharemytitlewithnowoman。
CallmebymynamebeforeIcommittedthefatalmistakeofmarryingyourbrother。Addressme，ifyouplease，asCountessNarona。’
’CountessNarona，’Francisresumed，’ifyourobjectinclaimingmyacquaintanceistomystifyme，youhavecometothewrongman。
Speakplainly，orpermitmetowishyougoodevening。’
’IfyourobjectistokeepMissLockwood’sarrivalinVeniceasecret，’
sheretorted，’speakplainly，Mr。Westwick，onyourside，andsayso。’
Herintentionwasevidentlytoirritatehim；andshesucceeded。
’Nonsense！’hebrokeoutpetulantly。’Mybrother’stravellingarrangementsaresecretstonobody。HebringsMissLockwoodhere，withLadyMontbarryandthechildren。Asyouseemsowellinformed，perhapsyouknowwhysheiscomingtoVenice？’
TheCountesshadsuddenlybecomegraveandthoughtful。Shemadenoreply。
Thetwostrangelyassociatedcompanions，havingreachedoneextremityofthesquare，werenowstandingbeforethechurchofSt。Mark。
Themoonlightwasbrightenoughtoshowthearchitectureofthegrandcathedralinitswonderfulvarietyofdetail。
EventhepigeonsofSt。Markwerevisible，indarkcloselypackedrows，roostinginthearchwaysofthegreatentrancedoors。
’Ineversawtheoldchurchlooksobeautifulbymoonlight，’
theCountesssaidquietly；speaking，nottoFrancis，buttoherself。
’Good-bye，St。Mark’sbymoonlight！Ishallnotseeyouagain。’
Sheturnedawayfromthechurch，andsawFrancislisteningtoherwithwonderinglooks。’No，’sheresumed，placidlypickingupthelostthreadoftheconversation，’Idon’tknowwhyMissLockwoodiscominghere，IonlyknowthatwearetomeetinVenice。’
’Bypreviousappointment？’
’ByDestiny，’sheanswered，withherheadonherbreast，andhereyesontheground。Francisburstoutlaughing。’Or，ifyoulikeitbetter，’sheinstantlyresumed，’bywhatfoolscallChance。’
Francisansweredeasily，outofthedepthsofhisstrongcommonsense。
’Chanceseemstobetakingaqueerwayofbringingthemeetingabout，’
hesaid。’WehaveallarrangedtomeetatthePalaceHotel。
HowisitthatyournameisnotontheVisitors’List？DestinyoughttohavebroughtyoutothePalaceHoteltoo。’
Sheabruptlypulleddownherveil。’Destinymaydothatyet！’shesaid。
’ThePalaceHotel？’sherepeated，speakingoncemoretoherself。
’Theoldhell，transformedintothenewpurgatory。Theplaceitself！
JesuMaria！theplaceitself！’Shepausedandlaidherhandonhercompanion’sarm。’PerhapsMissLockwoodisnotgoingtherewiththerestofyou？’sheburstoutwithsuddeneagerness。’Areyoupositivelysureshewillbeatthehotel？’
’Positively！Haven’tItoldyouthatMissLockwoodtravelswithLordandLadyMontbarry？anddon’tyouknowthatsheisamemberofthefamily？
Youwillhavetomove，Countess，toourhotel。’
Shewasperfectlyimpenetrabletothebanteringtoneinwhichhespoke。
’Yes，’shesaidfaintly，’Ishallhavetomovetoyourhotel。’
Herhandwasstillonhisarm——hecouldfeelhershiveringfromheadtofootwhileshespoke。Heartilyashedislikedanddistrustedher，thecommoninstinctofhumanityobligedhimtoaskifshefeltcold。
’Yes，’shesaid。’Coldandfaint。’
’Coldandfaint，Countess，onsuchanightasthis？’
’Thenighthasnothingtodowithit，Mr。Westwick。Howdoyousupposethecriminalfeelsonthescaffold，whilethehangmanisputtingtheropearoundhisneck？Coldandfaint，too，Ishouldthink。
Excusemygrimfancy。Yousee，Destinyhasgottheroperoundmyneck——
andIfeelit。’
Shelookedabouther。Theywereatthatmomentclosetothefamouscafeknownas’Florian’s。’’Takemeinthere，’shesaid；
’Imusthavesomethingtoreviveme。Youhadbetternothesitate。
Youareinterestedinrevivingme。IhavenotsaidwhatIwantedtosaytoyouyet。It’sbusiness，andit’sconnectedwithyourtheatre。’
Wonderinginwardlywhatshecouldpossiblywantwithhistheatre，Francisreluctantlyyieldedtothenecessitiesofthesituation，andtookherintothecafe。Hefoundaquietcornerinwhichtheycouldtaketheirplaceswithoutattractingnotice。’Whatwillyouhave？’
heinquiredresignedly。Shegaveherownorderstothewaiter，withouttroublinghimtospeakforher。
’Maraschino。Andapotoftea。’
Thewaiterstared；Francisstared。Theteawasanovelty（inconnectionwithmaraschino）tobothofthem。Carelesswhethershesurprisedthemornot，sheinstructedthewaiter，whenherdirectionshadbeencompliedwith，topouralargewine-glass-fulloftheliqueurintoatumbler，andtofillitupfromtheteapot。
’Ican’tdoitformyself，’sheremarked，’myhandtremblesso。’
Shedrankthestrangemixtureeagerly，hotasitwas。’Maraschinopunch——
willyoutastesomeofit？’shesaid。’Iinheritthediscoveryofthisdrink。WhenyourEnglishQueenCarolinewasontheContinent，mymotherwasattachedtoherCourt。ThatmuchinjuredRoyalPersoninvented，inherhappierhours，maraschinopunch。
Fondlyattachedtohergraciousmistress，mymothersharedhertastes。
AndI，inmyturn，learntfrommymother。Now，Mr。Westwick，supposeItellyouwhatmybusinessis。Youaremanagerofatheatre。
Doyouwantanewplay？’
’Ialwayswantanewplay——providedit’sagoodone。’
’Andyoupay，ifit’sagoodone？’
’Ipayliberally——inmyowninterests。’
’IfIwritetheplay，willyoureadit？’
Francishesitated。’Whathasputwritingaplayintoyourhead？’
heasked。
’Mereaccident，’sheanswered。’IhadonceoccasiontotellmylatebrotherofavisitwhichIpaidtoMissLockwood，whenIwaslastinEngland。Hetooknointerestatwhathappenedattheinterview，butsomethingstruckhiminmywayofrelatingit。Hesaid，"Youdescribewhatpassedbetweenyouandtheladywiththepointandcontrastofgoodstagedialogue。Youhavethedramaticinstinct——
tryifyoucanwriteaplay。Youmightmakemoney。"Thatputitintomyhead。’
ThoselastwordsseemedtostartleFrancis。’Surelyyoudon’twantmoney！’heexclaimed。
’Ialwayswantmoney。Mytastesareexpensive。Ihavenothingbutmypoorlittlefourhundredayear——andthewreckthatisleftoftheothermoney：abouttwohundredpoundsincircularnotes——
nomore。’
Francisknewthatshewasreferringtothetenthousandpoundspaidbytheinsuranceoffices。’Allthosethousandsgonealready！’
heexclaimed。
Sheblewalittlepuffofairoverherfingers。’Gonelikethat！’
sheansweredcoolly。
’BaronRivar？’
Shelookedathimwithaflashofangerinherhardblackeyes。
’Myaffairsaremyownsecret，Mr。Westwick。Ihavemadeyouaproposal——andyouhavenotansweredmeyet。Don’tsayNo，withoutthinkingfirst。Rememberwhatalifeminehasbeen。
Ihaveseenmoreoftheworldthanmostpeople，playwrightsincluded。
Ihavehadstrangeadventures；Ihaveheardremarkablestories；
Ihaveobserved；Ihaveremembered。Aretherenomaterials，hereinmyhead，forwritingaplay——iftheopportunityisgrantedtome？’
Shewaitedamoment，andsuddenlyrepeatedherstrangequestionaboutAgnes。
’WhenisMissLockwoodexpectedtobeinVenice？’
’Whathasthattodowithyournewplay，Countess？’
TheCountessappearedtofeelsomedifficultyingivingthatquestionitsfitreply。Shemixedanothertumblerfullofmaraschinopunch，anddrankonegoodhalfofitbeforeshespokeagain。
’Ithaseverythingtodowithmynewplay，’wasallshesaid。
’Answerme。’Francisansweredher。
’MissLockwoodmaybehereinaweek。Or，forallIknowtothecontrary，soonerthanthat。’
’Verywell。IfIamalivingwomanandafreewomaninaweek’stime——
orifIaminpossessionofmysensesinaweek’stime（don’tinterruptme；
IknowwhatIamtalkingabout）——Ishallhaveasketchoroutlineofmyplayready，asaspecimenofwhatIcando。Onceagain，willyoureadit？’
’Iwillcertainlyreadit。But，Countess，Idon’tunderstand——’
Sheheldupherhandforsilence，andfinishedthesecondtumblerofmaraschinopunch。
’Iamalivingenigma——andyouwanttoknowtherightreadingofme，’
shesaid。’Hereisthereading，asyourEnglishphrasegoes，inanutshell。Thereisafoolishideainthemindsofmanypersonsthatthenativesofthewarmclimatesareimaginativepeople。
Thereneverwasagreatermistake。YouwillfindnosuchunimaginativepeopleanywhereasyoufindinItaly，Spain，Greece，andtheotherSoutherncountries。Toanythingfanciful，toanythingspiritual，theirmindsaredeafandblindbynature。
Nowandthen，inthecourseofcenturies，agreatgeniusspringsupamongthem；andheistheexceptionwhichprovestherule。
Nowsee！I，thoughIamnogenius——Iam，inmylittleway（asIsuppose），anexceptiontoo。Tomysorrow，IhavesomeofthatimaginationwhichissocommonamongtheEnglishandtheGermans——
sorareamongtheItalians，theSpaniards，andtherestofthem！
Andwhatistheresult？Ithinkithasbecomeadiseaseinme。