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The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins
page 41 of 242 (16%)
Being a friend of Ferrari, he had gone to pay him a visit.
Ringing at the door that opened on the canal, and failing to make
anyone hear him, he had gone round to a side entrance opening
on one of the narrow lanes of Venice. Here, standing at the door
(as if she was waiting for him to try that way next), he found a pale
woman with magnificent dark eyes, who proved to be no other than Lady
Montbarry herself.

She asked, in Italian, what he wanted. He answered that he wanted
to see the courier Ferrari, if it was quite convenient.
She at once informed him that Ferrari had left the palace,
without assigning any reason, and without even leaving an address at
which his monthly salary (then due to him) could be paid. Amazed at
this reply, the courier inquired if any person had offended Ferrari,
or quarrelled with him. The lady answered, 'To my knowledge,
certainly not. I am Lady Montbarry; and I can positively assure you
that Ferrari was treated with the greatest kindness in this house.
We are as much astonished as you are at his extraordinary disappearance.
If you should hear of him, pray let us know, so that we may at least
pay him the money which is due.'

After one or two more questions (quite readily answered) relating to
the date and the time of day at which Ferrari had left the palace,
the courier took his leave.

He at once entered on the necessary investigations--without the slightest
result so far as Ferrari was concerned. Nobody had seen him.
Nobody appeared to have been taken into his confidence.
Nobody knew anything (that is to say, anything of the slightest importance)
even about persons so distinguished as Lord and Lady Montbarry.
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