Chapter XXII

           HavingclosedandsecuredthedooronLadyMontbarry’sdeparture,Agnesputonherdressing-gown,and,turningtoheropenboxes,beganthebusinessofunpacking.Inthehurryofmakinghertoiletfordinner,shehadtakenthefirstdressthatlayuppermostinthetrunk,andhadthrownhertravellingcostumeonthebed.Shenowopenedthedoorsofthewardrobeforthefirsttime,andbegantohangherdressesonthehooksinthelargecompartmentononeside.

           Afterafewminutesonlyofthisoccupation,shegrewwearyofit,anddecidedonleavingthetrunksastheywere,untilthenextmorning.Theoppressivesouthwind,whichhadblownthroughouttheday,stillprevailedatnight.Theatmosphereoftheroomfeltclose;Agnesthrewashawloverherheadandshoulders,and,openingthewindow,steppedintothebalconytolookattheview.

           Thenightwasheavyandovercast:nothingcouldbedistinctlyseen.Thecanalbeneaththewindowlookedlikeablackgulf;theoppositehouseswerebarelyvisibleasarowofshadows,dimlyrelievedagainstthestarlessandmoonlesssky.Atlongintervals,thewarningcryofabelatedgondolierwasjustaudible,asheturnedthecornerofadistantcanal,andcalledtoinvisibleboatswhichmightbeapproachinghiminthedarkness.Nowandthen,thenearerdipofanoarinthewatertoldoftheviewlesspassageofothergondolasbringingguestsbacktothehotel.Exceptingtheseraresounds,themysteriousnight-silenceofVenicewasliterallythesilenceofthegrave.

           Leaningontheparapetofthebalcony,Agneslookedvacantlyintotheblackvoidbeneath.