Готель з привидами
Chapter XIII
Didyounoticeanything,whileyouwereatVenice,thatwouldaccountforherhusband’sextraordinarydisappearance?Onwhatsortofterms,forinstance,didhelivewithhismasterandmistress?’
’Ontermsoffamiliaritywithhismistress,’saidMrs.Rolland,’whichweresimplysickeningtoarespectableEnglishservant.Sheusedtoencouragehimtotalktoheraboutallhisaffairs—howhegotonwithhiswife,andhowpressedhewasformoney,andsuchlike—justasiftheywereequals.Contemptible—that’swhatIcallit.’
’Andhismaster?’Agnescontinued.’HowdidFerrarigetonwithLordMontbarry?’
’Mylordusedtoliveshutupwithhisstudiesandhissorrows,’Mrs.Rollandanswered,withahardsolemnityexpressiveofrespectforhislordship’smemory.’Mr.Ferrarigothismoneywhenitwasdue;andhecaredfornothingelse."IfIcouldaffordit,Iwouldleavetheplacetoo;butIcan’taffordit."Thosewerethelastwordshesaidtome,onthemorningwhenIleftthepalace.Imadenoreply.Afterwhathadhappened(onthatotheroccasion)IwasnaturallynotonspeakingtermswithMr.Ferrari.’
’Canyoureallytellmenothingwhichwillthrowanylightonthismatter?’
’Nothing,’saidMrs.Rolland,withanundisguisedrelishofthedisappointmentthatshewasinflicting.
’TherewasanothermemberofthefamilyatVenice,’Agnesresumed,determinedtosiftthequestiontothebottomwhileshehadthechance.’TherewasBaronRivar.’
Mrs.
