Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-07
Countess narOna.
Bv wILKIE COLLINS.

solitary lady lettering about the corridor of the second story, was watching her over the balusters. After a while the maid appeared with her pail in her hand, leaving the room by way of the dressing room and the back stains. As she passed out of sight the lady on the second foor uo other, it is needless to add than tho countess herselD ran swiftly down the stairs, entered tue bed chamber by the principal door and hid herself in the empty side compartment of the wardrobe. The chambermaid returned, completed her work, locked the door of the dressing room on the inner side, locked the principal entrance door on leaving the room. and returned the key to Agnes ill the drawing room. The travellers were just sitting down to their late dinner when of the children noticed that Agnes was not wearing her watch Had she left it in her bed chamber ill the hurry of changing her dress? She rose from the table at once ill search of her watch; Lady Montbarry advising her as she went out to see to the security of her bed chamber in the event of there being thieves ill the house. Agnes found her watch, forgotten, on the toilet table, as she had anticipated Before leaving the room again she acted on Lady Montbarry's advice and tried the key in the lock of the dressing room door. She left the bed chamber locking the main door behind her.
 Immediately on her departure the countess, oppressed by the confined air in the ward robe, ventured OH stepping out of her hiding place into the empty room.
 Entering the dressing room on tiptoe, she listened at the door until the silence outside informed her that the corridor was empty. Upon this she unlocked tie door, and, passing out clost it again softly. leaving it to all ap- pearance (when viewed on tine inner sde) as r,,1lxy A 1,oI she tried the key in the lock with her own hand.
 While the Montbarrys were still at dinner Hrnry Westwick joined them, arriving from Milan.
 When he entered the room, and again when he advanced to shake hands with her, Agnes was conscious of latent feeling which secretly reciprocated Eenry's unconcealed pleasure on meeting her again. For a ment only she returned his look; and ill that moment her observation told her that she had silently encouraged him to h' pc. Size saw it ill the sudden glow of happiness which overspread his face; and she con- fusedy took refuge in the usual conventional inquiries relating to the relatives whom he hal left at Milan.
 Taking bis place at the table, Henry gave a most amusing account Of the position of his brother Francis, between the mercenary opera dancer on one side, and the unscrupu- lous manager of the French theatre on the other. Matters had proceeded to such ex t:enities that the law had been called on to interfere, and had decided the dispute in favor of Francis. On winning the victory, the English manager had at once left Milan, recalled to London by the affairs of hls theatre. He was accompanied on he journey back, as he had been accompanied OH the journey out, by his sister. Resolved, after passing two nights of tsrror in The Venetian hotel, never to enter it again, Mrs. Norbury asked to be excused from appearing at the family festival, on the ground of ill health. At her age travelling fatigued her. and she was glad to take advantage Of her brothers escort to return to England
 While the talk at the dinner table flowed easily onward, the evening time advanced to night. and it became necessary to think of sending, tho children to bed.
 As Agnes rose to leave the room, accompa- nicd by tue eldest girl. she observed with sur prise that Henry's manner suddenly changed. Ee looked serious and preoccuped, and when his niece wished him good night he abruptly ! said to her, Marian. want to know what part of the hotel you sleep in9' Marian, puzzled by the question, answered that she wa, going to s.eep as usual with "Aunt Agnes" Not satisfied with that reply, Henry next inquired whether the bedroom was near l the rooms occupied by the other members of 1 the travelling party. Answering for the child and wondering what Henry's object ! could possibly be, Agnes mentioned the p,- 1 lite sacrifice made to her convenience by 1 Mrs. James. "Thanks to that lady's kind- l ness" sne said, "Msrian and I are only on the other side of the drawing room." Henry 1 made nc remark; he looked incomprehensi- blv discontented as he opened the door for i Agnes and her companion to pass out. After l wishing them good night he waited III the corridor until he saw them enteP the fatal corner rooiA and then he called abruptly to his brother: "Come out, Stephen, and let us l smoke"
 As soon as the two brothers were at liberty to speak together privatey Henry explained tine motive which had led to his staunge in- uuiries about the bedrooms Francis had in- formed him of the meeting with the countess at Venice, and of all that had followed 1t, and Henry now carefully repeated the narrative to his brother in all it's details. T am not satisfied" he added, "about that wonlan's purpose in giving up her room. Without alarming the ladies by telling them what I have just told you, can you not warn Agnes to be careful ill securing ner door?' Lord 1 Montbarry replied that the warning had al- ready been given by his wife, and Agnes might be trusted to take good care of herself and her little bed fellow. For the rest, he looked upon the wonderful story of the countess and her superstitions piece of theatrical exagGeration, amusing enough in itself, but quite unworthy of moments se- rious attention.
 While the gentlemen were absent from the
 hotel, the room which had been a,ready asso-
 ciated with so many startling circumstances
 became the scene of anoth,r strange ev> nt,
 in which Lady Montbarry's eldest child was
 concerned.
 Little Marian had been got ready for bed
 as usual and had (so far) taken hardly any
 notice of the new room. As she knelt dowi
 to say her prayers she happened to look ur
 at that part of the ceiling above her wLic
 was just over the head of the Led. The next
 instant she alarmed Agnes by starting to hel
 feet with cry of terror, and pointing to c
 small brown spot one of the white paneleo
 spaces of the carved ceiling. ''Its spot o1
 bloodp' the child exclaimed. 'Take me
 awayI I won't sleep herev
 Seeing plainly that it would be useless te
 reason with her while she was in the room
 Agnes hurriedly wrapped Marian ill dress
 ing gown and carried her back to her mother
 in he drawing room. Hero the ladies dil ! their best to soo he and reassuIe tho tiem