Considerably surprised at this last new manifestation of the famous
'English eccentricity,' the man looked at the hotel register,
and led the lady upstairs again to the room occupied by her maid.
The maid was not asleep, and, more wonderful still, was not
even undressed. She received her mistress quietly. When they
were alone, and when Mrs. Norbury had, as a matter of necessity,
taken her attendant into her confidence, the woman made a very
strange reply.
'I have been asking about the hotel, at the servants'
supper to-night,' she said. 'The valet of one of the gentlemen
staying here has heard that the late Lord Montbarry was the last
person who lived in the palace, before it was made into an hotel.
The room he died in, ma'am, was the room you slept in last night.
Your room tonight is the room just above it. I said nothing for fear
of frightening you. For my own part, I have passed the night as
you see, keeping my light on, and reading my Bible. In my opinion,
no member of your family can hope to be happy or comfortable in
this house.'
'What do you mean?'
'Please to let me explain myself, ma'am.
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