登陆注册
15459600000033

第33章 CHAPTER XIII(3)

'There was another member of the family at Venice,' Agnes resumed, determined to sift the question to the bottom while she had the chance.

'There was Baron Rivar.'

Mrs. Rolland lifted her large hands, covered with rusty black gloves, in mute protest against the introduction of Baron Rivar as a subject of inquiry. 'Are you aware, Miss,' she began, 'that I left my place in consequence of what I observed--?'

Agnes stopped her there. 'I only wanted to ask,' she explained, 'if anything was said or done by Baron Rivar which might account for Ferrari's strange conduct.'

'Nothing that I know of,' said Mrs. Rolland. 'The Baron and Mr. Ferrari (if I may use such an expression) were "birds of a feather,"so far as I could see--I mean, one was as unprincipled as the other.

I am a just woman; and I will give you an example. Only the day before I left, I heard the Baron say (through the open door of his room while I was passing along the corridor), "Ferrari, I want a thousand pounds. What would you do for a thousand pounds?" And I heard Mr. Ferrari answer, "Anything, sir, as long as I was not found out."And then they both burst out laughing. I heard no more than that.

Judge for yourself, Miss.'

Agnes reflected for a moment. A thousand pounds was the sum that had been sent to Mrs. Ferrari in the anonymous letter.

Was that enclosure in any way connected, as a result, with the conversation between the Baron and Ferrari? It was useless to press any more inquiries on Mrs. Rolland. She could give no further information which was of the slightest importance to the object in view. There was no alternative but to grant her dismissal.

One more effort had been made to find a trace of the lost man, and once again the effort had failed.

They were a family party at the dinner-table that day. The only guest left in the house was a nephew of the new Lord Montbarry--the eldest son of his sister, Lady Barrville. Lady Montbarry could not resist telling the story of the first (and last) attack made on the virtue of Mrs. Rolland, with a comically-exact imitation of Mrs. Rolland's deep and dismal voice. Being asked by her husband what was the object which had brought that formidable person to the house, she naturally mentioned the expected visit of Miss Haldane.

Arthur Barville, unusually silent and pre-occupied so far, suddenly struck into the conversation with a burst of enthusiasm.

'Miss Haldane is the most charming girl in all Ireland!' he said.

'I caught sight of her yesterday, over the wall of her garden, as I was riding by. What time is she coming to-morrow? Before two?

I'll look into the drawing-room by accident--I am dying to be introduced to her!'

Agnes was amused by his enthusiasm. 'Are you in love with Miss Haldane already?' she asked.

Arthur answered gravely, 'It's no joking matter. I have been all day at the garden wall, waiting to see her again! It depends on Miss Haldane to make me the happiest or the wretchedest man living.'

'You foolish boy! How can you talk such nonsense?'

He was talking nonsense undoubtedly. But, if Agnes had only known it, he was doing something more than that. He was innocently leading her another stage nearer on the way to Venice.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 野山决

    野山决

    在世俗不约而凝成的单边信仰里,你所洒下的热血可能被认为是鸡血!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 夺天界

    夺天界

    茫茫天地,拥有无数个界面,有大有小。然而能叫一等界面的却始终只有一个,那就是天界!天界,无数生灵追逐长生的地方,吸引了无数天骄从各个界面纷纷前往。然而有一天一群神秘的黑色灵魂体来袭,天界被夺!断了无数新生代强者的长生路!宋晓由此开始了自己的人生路。。。。。。
  • 神犬嘀嗒

    神犬嘀嗒

    每个女生都幻想着有一条宠物犬可以作为一个忠实的伙伴,请看嘀嗒的传奇成长变身的奇幻旅程……
  • 绝宠凰女:凤舞九天

    绝宠凰女:凤舞九天

    前世他乃是天帝最器重之人第一美男花神花瑾,她却是小小蝶仙蝶嫣,他爱她,她却爱他风神枫溪,三人形影不离未曾分开过,千年来他就算是再怎么笨也知道蝶嫣爱的不是他……妖界魔龙骚动,三界大乱天帝派花神和蝶仙去抵制妖域。他说:“蝶嫣,天帝派我们去抵制妖域森林。”蝶嫣看着眼前貌美如花的男子轻轻吟笑“你等我,我唤枫溪一起去”转身却没看到花瑾的笑容凝聚唇边,眼底一丝暗淡……花为蝴蝶开,蝴蝶…为风飞……
  • 一代大能

    一代大能

    天赋极高遭同族嫉妒,丹田经脉被废,一副天骨令他重生,却不想天骨之内藏有.......
  • 我俩情缘吧

    我俩情缘吧

    我看你挺合我胃口的,不如我俩~~呵呵,讨厌~~你懂得……
  • 魔君令:悍妃难驯

    魔君令:悍妃难驯

    穿到妖洞,还遇到个千年冷面美男,然而,美则美矣,却残酷腹黑又霸道!想要她摇尾乞怜?NONONO,她才没那么好说话!管她是神还是妖,她白漪是大小通吃。于是不久之后……哎呀呀,堂堂的妖王居然也谈情了,这可是闻所未闻的大事!瞧这一群没事做的神仙,竟公然下起赌注来了!风神:我敢担保,妖王一定不会妥协,他可是万年屎壳郎,又臭又硬!花神:你懂什么?自古男子多痴情,妖王是必然会妥协的!梦神:你们都错了,他们是牛对驴,一样倔!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 白色的雨

    白色的雨

    因为软弱,所以才知道自己要变坚强,所以才要摆脱自己的无力,因为除了你自己外,没人比你更能帮你。
  • 火影忍者之宇智波枫

    火影忍者之宇智波枫

    枫木在一场灾难中到了火影世界而开始了新的旅程。