the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第5章
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marry。
His friends in the smoking…room decided unanimously that the
celebrated physician must be a second 'Rip…van…Winkle；' and that he had
just awakened from a supernatural sleep of twenty years。 It was all very
well to say that he was devoted to his profession； and that he had neither
time nor inclination to pick up fragments of gossip at dinner…parties and
balls。 A man who did not know that the Countess Narona had borrowed
money at Homburg of no less a person than Lord Montbarry； and had then
deluded him into making her a proposal of marriage； was a man who had
probably never heard of Lord Montbarry himself。 The younger members
of the club； humouring the joke； sent a waiter for the 'Peerage'； and read
aloud the memoir of the nobleman in question； for the Doctor's benefit
with illustrative morsels of information interpolated by themselves。
'Herbert John Westwick。 First Baron Montbarry； of Montbarry；
King's County； Ireland。 Created a Peer for distinguished military services
in India。 Born； 1812。 Forty…eight years old； Doctor； at the present time。
Not married。 Will be married next week； Doctor； to the delightful
creature we have been talking about。 Heir presumptive； his lordship's next
brother； Stephen Robert； married to Ella； youngest daughter of the
Reverend Silas Marden； Rector of Runnigate； and has issue； three
daughters。 Younger brothers of his lordship； Francis and Henry；
unmarried。 Sisters of his lordship； Lady Barville； married to Sir
Theodore Barville； Bart。； and Anne； widow of the late Peter Norbury； Esq。；
of Norbury Cross。 Bear his lordship's relations well in mind； Doctor。
Three brothers Westwick； Stephen； Francis； and Henry； and two sisters；
Lady Barville and Mrs。 Norbury。 Not one of the five will be present at
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the marriage； and not one of the five will leave a stone unturned to stop it；
if the Countess will only give them a chance。 Add to these hostile
members of the family another offended relative not mentioned in the
'Peerage；' a young lady'
A sudden outburst of protest in more than one part of the room stopped
the coming disclosure； and released the Doctor from further persecution。
'Don't mention the poor girl's name； it's too bad to make a joke of that
part of the business； she has behaved nobly under shameful provocation；
there is but one excuse for Montbarryhe is either a madman or a fool。' In
these terms the protest expressed itself on all sides。 Speaking
confidentially to his next neighbour； the Doctor discovered that the lady
referred to was already known to him （through the Countess's confession）
as the lady deserted by Lord Montbarry。 Her name was Agnes
Lockwood。 She was described as being the superior of the Countess in
personal attraction； and as being also by some years the younger woman
of the two。 Making all allowance for the follies that men committed every
day in their relations with women； Montbarry's delusion was still the most
monstrous delusion on record。 In this expression of opinion every man
present agreedthe lawyer even included。 Not one of them could call to
mind the innumerable instances in which the sexual influence has proved
irresistible in the persons of women without even the pretension to beauty。
The very members of the club whom the Countess （in spite of her personal
disadvantages） could have most easily fascinated； if she had thought it
worth her while； were the members who wondered most loudly at
Montbarry's choice of a wife。
While the topic of the Countess's marriage was still the one topic of
conversation； a member of the club entered the smoking…room whose
appearance instantly produced a dead silence。 Doctor Wybrow's next
neighbour whispered to him； 'Montbarry's brother Henry Westwick！'
The new…comer looked round him slowly； with a bitter smile。
'You are all talking of my brother；'he said。 'Don't mind me。 Not one
of you can despise him more heartily than I do。 Go on； gentlemengo on！'
But one man present took the speaker at his word。 That man was the
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lawyer who had already undertaken the defence of the Countess。
'I stand alone in my opinion；' he said； 'and I am not ashamed of
repeating it in anybody's hearing。 I consider the Countess Narona to be a
cruelly…treated woman。 Why shouldn't she be Lord Montbarry's wife？
Who can say she has a mercenary motive in marrying him？'
Montbarry's brother turned sharply on the speaker。 'I say it！' he
answered。
The reply might have shaken some men。 The lawyer stood on his
ground as firmly as ever。
'I believe I am right；' he rejoined； 'in stating that his lordship's income
is not more than sufficient to support his station in life； also that it is an
income derived almost entirely from landed property in Ireland； every acre
of which is entailed。'
Montbarry's brother made a sign； admitting that he had no objection to
offer so far。
'If his lordship dies first；' the lawyer proceeded； 'I have been informed
that the only provision he can make for his widow consists in a rent…
charge on the property of no more than four hundred a year。 His retiring
pension and allowances； it is well known； die with him。 Four hundred a
year is therefore all that he can leave to the Countess； if he leaves her a
widow。'
'Four hundred a year is not all；' was the reply to this。 'My brother has
insured his life for ten thousand pounds； and he has settled the whole of it
on the Countess； in the event of his death。'
This announcement produced a strong sensation。 Men looked at each
other； and repeated the three startling words； 'Ten thousand pounds！'
Driven fairly to the wall； the lawyer made a last effort to defend his
position。
'May I ask who made that settlement a condition of the marriage？' he
said。 'Surely it was not the Countess herself？。'
Henry Westwick answered； 'it was the Countess's brother'； and added；
'which comes to the same thing。'
After that； there was no more to be saidso long； at least； as
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Montbarry's brother was present。 The talk flowed into other channels；
and the Doctor went home。
But his morbid curiosity about the Countess was not set at rest yet。 In
his leisure moments he found himself wondering whether Lord
Montbarry's family would succeed in stopping the marriage after all。 And
more than this； he was conscious of a growing desire to see the infatuated
man himself。 Every day during the brief interval before the wedding； he
looked in at the club； on the chance of hearing some news。 Nothing had
happened； so far as the club knew。 The Countess's position was secure；
Montbarry's resolution to be her husband was unshaken。
