Chapter XIV

           Asthesummermonthsadvanced,thetransformationoftheVenetianpalaceintothemodernhotelproceededrapidlytowardscompletion.

           Theoutsideofthebuilding,withitsfinePalladianfrontlookingonthecanal,waswiselyleftunaltered.Inside,asamatterofnecessity,theroomswerealmostrebuilt—sofaratleastasthesizeandthearrangementofthemwereconcerned.Thevastsaloonswerepartitionedoffinto’apartments’containingthreeorfourroomseach.Thebroadcorridorsintheupperregionsaffordedsparespaceenoughforrowsoflittlebedchambers,devotedtoservantsandtotravellerswithlimitedmeans.Nothingwassparedbutthesolidfloorsandthefinely-carvedceilings.Theselast,inexcellentpreservationastoworkmanship,merelyrequiredcleaning,andregildinghereandthere,toaddgreatlytothebeautyandimportanceofthebestroomsinthehotel.Theonlyexceptiontothecompletere-organizationoftheinteriorwasatoneextremityoftheedifice,onthefirstandsecondfloors.Heretherehappened,ineachcase,toberoomsofsuchcomparativelymoderatesize,andsoattractivelydecorated,thatthearchitectsuggestedleavingthemastheywere.ItwasafterwardsdiscoveredthatthesewerenootherthantheapartmentsformerlyoccupiedbyLordMontbarry(onthefirstfloor),andbyBaronRivar(onthesecond).TheroominwhichMontbarryhaddiedwasstillfittedupasabedroom,andwasnowdistinguishedasNumberFourteen.Theroomaboveit,inwhichtheBaronhadslept,tookitsplaceonthehotel-registerasNumberThirty-Eight.