The Haunted Hotel / Отель с привидениями

‘My good friend Mrs. Ferrari; I am so glad to see her.’

The landlady accompanied them to the door. The cab was waiting. They drove away. Lady Montbarry preserved a sinister silence, until they reached the house where Miss Lockwood

lodged. She opened the door of the cab, and closed it again.

‘Take that lady a mile farther on her way home!’ she said, as she paid the man his fare.

The next moment she knocked at the house-door.

‘Is Miss Lockwood at home?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

She stepped over the threshold – the door closed on her.

‘Which way, ma’am?’ asked the driver of the cab.

Mrs. Ferrari put her hand to her head, and tried to collect her thoughts. Will she leave her friend and benefactress helpless at Lady Montbarry’s mercy? Which course to follow? Suddenly a gentleman stopped at Miss Lockwood’s door. He looked towards the cab-window, and saw her.

‘Are you going to call on Miss Agnes too?’ he asked.

It was Henry Westwick. Mrs. Ferrari recognised him.

‘Go in, sir!’ she cried. ‘Go in, directly. That dreadful woman is with Miss Agnes. Go and protect her!’

‘What woman?’ Henry asked.

With amazement and indignation in his face, he looked at Mrs. Ferrari as she pronounced the hated name of ‘Lady Montbarry.’

‘I’ll see to it[21 - I’ll see to it – я об этом позабочусь],’ was all he said.

Chapter XI

‘Lady Montbarry, Miss.’

Agnes was writing a letter, when the servant announced the visitor’s name. Her first impulse was to refuse to see the woman. But Lady Montbarry entered the room.