Telegram-herald., 1888-01-22
CHAPTER XVIII


Before the end Of the week the MANAGER
found himself in relations with "the family.
once more. A telegram from Milan an
nounced that Mr. Francis Westwiek would
arrive in Venice on the next day, and would
be obliged il Number Fourteen on the first
noor could be reserved for him In the event
OF its beng vacant al the time
Tue masager paused 10 consider before he
issued his directions.
The remembered room had been last let 10 Q
French gentleman. 1t would be occupied On
the day Of Mr.. Francis Westwick's arrival.
but It would be empty again on the day
after. Would 10 be well To reserve the roo,u
for the special occupation Of Mr. rranct
and VIXEN he had passed the night unsaspic 4.
ously and comfortably in "Eo l3A, TO ask
him in the presence of witnesses how he liked
his bed chamberi In this case, If the reputa-
ton Of the room happened to be called in
question again, the answer would vindicate
II on the evidence OF a member Of the very
family which had first given Number Four
teen bad name. After httls reflection
the manager decided on trying the expert
nncnt, and directed that ''l3A" should be re-
served accordingly.
On the next day Francis Westwick arrived
in excellent spirits.
He hsd signed agreements with the most
popular dancer in Italy; he had transferred
the charge OF Mrs Norbury to bis brother
Henry, who kad joined him in Milan. and he
was now at full liberty TO arnuse himself by
testing in every possible way the extraordin-
ary influence exercised over his relatives by
the new hotel. When his brother and sister
first told him what their experience had been.
he instantly declared that be would 20 to
Venice in tho interest Of his theatre. The
circumstances related TO him contained valu-
able hints for ghost drama. The title &C.
CURED 70 him in the railway: "The Haunted
HOTEL Post that ia red letters six feet high.
on black ground, all over London, and trust
the excitable public TO crowd into the theatrel
Received with the politest attention by ths
manager, Francis met with disappointment
on entering tina hotel Some mistake. sir.
No such roon On the first aoor as Number
Fourteen. The room bearing that number is
on the second foor, and has been occupied by
me from the day when the hotel opened.
Perhaps you meant No. 13A, on the first foori
1t will be at your service to-morrow-a
charming room. In the meantime, we will
dc the best We can fer you tonight"
A man who rs the successful manager Of .
theatre is probably the last man in the civil
i1ed universe who is capable OF being isn-
pressed with favorable opinions of his fellow
creatures. Francis privately set the mana
ger down as a humbug, and the story about
the numbering Of the room as q lie.
On the day OF his arrival be diAed by him
self in the restaurant, before the hour of the
table d'hot>, fer the express purpose of
questioning the waiter without being over
the conclusion that "1SA" occupied tho situa-
tion in the hotel which had been described by
his brother the situation Of IA" He asked
next for the visitors list, and found that the
French gentleman who then occupied "l3A"
WAS the proprietor of theatre in Paris, per-
sonally well known to him. Was the gentle
man then in the hotell He had gone out, but
would certainly rcturn for the table d'hote.
When the public dinner was over, Francis
entered the room, and was welcomed by his
Partisan colleague literally with open arms
"Coms and have cigar in my ROOM said
ths friendly Frenchman- Il want TO hear
whether you have really engaged that woman
at Milan or not Ia this easy way Francis
found his opportunity of comparing the into
rior Of the room with the description which
be had heard Of it at Milan
Arriving at the door. the Frenohman be-
thought himself of his travelling companion.
My scene painter is here with me-" ne said,
"on the lookout for materials An excellent
fellow, who will take IL as a kindness IL we
Ask him to join rs. I'll tell the porter to
send him ND when he comes in.- He handed
the key Of his room 70 Francis. 81 viii b.
back In minuta It's at the end Of the cor
ridor-13A-
Francis entered the room alone. There
wrrs tas decorations on the walls and the
ceiling. .xsctly As they had besn described 70
kinat he bad Just time to perceive this at n
rlaac., ref.rs ais attention was diverted to
himself and his own sensations by srotes-
auely aissSrsesbls occurrence which took him
completely sy surprise.
He became conscious ef a nvstsriously
sTsnsivs odsr in the room, entirely new in
his srp~rience Of rsvolting smells Il was
composed (if such thing could be- of two
naingiing exhalssions, which we're separately
di>covsrsbls sxhaistions. nevertheless This
stranx. b.-ndiag Of eders consisted of sorne-
thing family and unpieassntiy aromatic,
raixed With smother underlying smell 50 un-
ust.rsblv sick-sinr that - thrs~ opsn the
window and put his hsaa cut ints the fresh
cir. unabls 20 e.aure 10 h-rrihly Infected
ssr1oSrhsrs fer a ner,rat lcnEer.
TIE French proprietor join~d his EsgiisA
frieud ~ifs his cissr slrssdy iit n. started
hack in dsnsy at sighs teTT1s. so hi.
c.urtrTren IA r-neral-ths srhs - an ec.n
wia5ow. Yen E8glizs peorl@ ara perfectly
rnsd en re sahjecs q fr-s1 air be sx-
claimed We seal cstcs sur destss - cold
FrsncE t1rnsS sns Iooksa At hin in sstor-
fskmesa Are ysa r~aisy net s~sr. of tss
xrsa thers is u TIE r-ozF Sc ssxed
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r-,ea ny own g~sd oixar- Try oue Tsarsssf
Arr far scarsn saSs ssut ~ wiu1~v~
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- so~r
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