The Haunted Hotel / Отель с привидениями

’

That night my lord nearly died of asphyxia. He lingered in a state of insensibility until the 25th, and died on the evening of that day.

As to the cause of his death, it seems simply absurd to ask the question. Bronchitis, terminating in pneumonia. Doctor Torello’s own note is added here to a duplicate of my certificate.”

Doctor Bruno’s evidence ends here.

Lady Montbarry can give us no information on the subject of the letter which the doctor posted at Lord Montbarry’s request.

When his lordship wrote it? what it contained? why he kept it a secret from Lady Montbarry (and from the Baron also)? why did he write to the wife of his courier? Application to Mrs. Ferrari may perhaps clear up the mystery.

Anyway, it is impossible to dispute the statement on the certificate that his lordship died a natural death. Therefore, we report that there are no valid grounds for refusing the payment of the sum for which the late Lord Montbarry’s life was assured.

We shall send these lines to you by the post of tomorrow, December 10.’

Chapter IX

�Now, my dear, what do you have to say to me? I don’t want to hurry you; but these are business hours, and I have other people’s affairs.’

Addressing Ferrari’s wife, Mr. Troy looked at the watch on his desk, and then waited to hear what his client had to say to him.

�It’s something more, sir, about the letter with the thousand-pound note,’ Mrs.

Ferrari began. �I have found out who sent it to me.’

Mr. Troy started. �This is news indeed!’ he said. �Who sent you the letter?’

�Lord Montbarry sent it, sir.’

�Nonsense! There is some mistake – it can’t be!’ he said.

�There is no mistake,’ Mrs. Ferrari rejoined. �Two gentlemen from the insurance offices told me. They heard of the letter and of the bank-note inside. And they know who sent the letter. The doctor in Venice posted it at his lordship’s request.

Go to the gentlemen yourself, sir, if you don’t believe me. They asked me why Lord Montbarry had written to me and sent me the money. I said it was like his lordship’s kindness.’

�Like his lordship’s kindness?’ Mr. Troy repeated, in amazement. �A very pretty explanation! What did your visitors from the insurance offices think of it?’

�They asked if I had any proof of my husband’s death.