POSTSCRIPT
A last chance of deciding the difference of opinion between the twobrothers remained in Henry's possession. He had his own idea of theuse to which he might put the false teeth as a means of inquiry when heand his fellow-travellers returned to England.
The only surviving depositary of the domestic history of the family inpast years, was Agnes Lockwood's old nurse. Henry took his firstopportunity of trying to revive her personal recollections of thedeceased Lord Montbarry. But the nurse had never forgiven the greatman of the family for his desertion of Agnes; she flatly refused toconsult her memory. 'Even the bare sight of my lord, when I last sawhim in London,' said the old woman, 'made my finger-nails itch to settheir mark on his face. I was sent on an errand by Miss Agnes; and Imet him coming out of his dentist's door--and, thank God, that's thelast I ever saw of him!'
Thanks to the nurse's quick temper and quaint way of expressingherself, the object of Henry's inquiries was gained already! Heventured on asking if she had noticed the situation of the house. Shehad noticed, and still remembered the situation--did Master Henrysuppose she had lost the use of her senses, because she happened to benigh on eighty years old? The same day, he took the false teeth to thedentist, and set all further doubt (if doubt had still been possible)at rest for ever. The teeth had been made for the first Lord Montbarry.
Henry never revealed the existence of this last link in the chain ofdiscovery to any living creature, his brother Stephen included. Hecarried his terrible secret with him to the grave.
There was one other event in the memorable past on which he preservedthe same compassionate silence. Little Mrs. Ferrari never knew thather husband had been--not, as she supposed, the Countess's victim--butthe Countess's accomplice. She still believed that the late LordMontbarry had sent her the thousand-pound note, and still recoiled frommaking use of a present which she persisted in declaring had 'the stainof her husband's blood on it.' Agnes, with the widow's entireapproval, took the money to the Children's Hospital; and spent it inadding to the number of the beds.
In the spring of the new year, the marriage took place. At the specialrequest of Agnes, the members of the family were the only personspresent at the ceremony. There was no wedding breakfast--and thehoneymoon was spent in the retirement of a cottage on the banks of theThames.
During the last few days of the residence of the newly married coupleby the riverside, Lady Montbarry's children were invited to enjoy aday's play in the garden. The eldest girl overheard (and reported toher mother) a little conjugal dialogue which touched on the topic ofThe Haunted Hotel.
'Henry, I want you to give me a kiss.'
'There it is, my dear.'
'Now I am your wife, may I speak to you about something?'
'What is it?'
'Something that happened the day before we left Venice. You saw theCountess, during the last hours of her life. Won't you tell me whethershe made any confession to you?'
'No conscious confession, Agnes--and therefore no confession that Ineed distress you by repeating.'
'Did she say nothing about what she saw or heard, on that dreadfulnight in my room?'
'Nothing. We only know that her mind never recovered the terror of it.'
Agnes was not quite satisfied. The subject troubled her. Even her ownbrief intercourse with her miserable rival of other days suggestedquestions that perplexed her. She remembered the Countess'sprediction. 'You have to bring me to the day of discovery, and to thepunishment that is my doom.' Had the prediction simply faded, likeother mortal prophecies?--or had it been fulfilled on the terriblenight when she had seen the apparition, and when she had innocentlytempted the Countess to watch her in her room?
Let it, however, be recorded, among the other virtues of Mrs. HenryWestwick, that she never again attempted to persuade her husband intobetraying his secrets. Other men's wives, hearing of thisextraordinary conduct (and being trained in the modern school of moralsand manners), naturally regarded her with compassionate contempt. Theyspoke of Agnes, from that time forth, as 'rather an old-fashionedperson.'
Is that all?
That is all.
Is there no explanation of the mystery of The Haunted Hotel?
Ask yourself if there is any explanation of the mystery of your ownlife and death.--Farewell.
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