On the 14th the Directors and their legal advisers1 met for the reading of the report, with closed doors. These were the terms in which the Commissioners2 related the results of their inquiry3: ‘Private and confidential4.
‘We have the honour to inform our Directors that we arrived in Venice on December 6, 1860. On the same day we proceeded to the palace inhabited by Lord Montbarry at the time of his last illness and death.
‘We were received with all possible courtesy by Lady Montbarry’s brother, Baron5 Rivar. “My sister was her husband’s only attendant throughout his illness,” the Baron informed us. “She is overwhelmed by grief and fatigue6 — or she would have been here to receive you personally. What are your wishes, gentlemen? and what can I do for you in her ladyship’s place?”
‘In accordance with our instructions, we answered that the death and burial of Lord Montbarry abroad made it desirable to obtain more complete information relating to his illness, and to the circumstances which had attended it, than could be conveyed in writing. We explained that the law provided for the lapse7 of a certain interval8 of time before the payment of the sum assured, and we expressed our wish to conduct the inquiry with the most respectful consideration for her ladyship’s feelings, and for the convenience of any other members of the family inhabiting the house.
‘To this the Baron replied, “I am the only member of the family living here, and I and the palace are entirely9 at your disposal.” From first to last we found this gentleman perfectly10 straighforward, and most amiably11 willing to assist us.
‘With the one exception of her ladyship’s room, we went over the whole of the palace the same day. It is an immense place only partially12 furnished. The first floor and part of the second floor were the portions of it that had been inhabited by Lord Montbarry and the members of the household. We saw the bedchamber, at one extremity13 of the palace, in which his lordship died, and the small room communicating with it, which he used as a study. Next to this was a large apartment or hall, the doors of which he habitually14 kept locked, his object being (as we were informed) to pursue his studies uninterruptedly in perfect solitude15. On the other side of the large hall were the bedchamber occupied by her ladyship, and the dressing-room in which the maid slept previous to her departure for England. Beyond these were the dining and reception rooms, opening into an antechamber, which gave access to the grand staircase of the palace.
‘The only inhabited rooms on the second floor were the sitting-room16 and bedroom occupied by Baron Rivar, and another room at some distance from it, which had been the bedroom of the courier Ferrari.
‘The rooms on the third floor and on the basement were completely unfurnished, and in a condition of great neglect. We inquired if there was anything to be seen below the basement — and we were at once informed that there were vaults17 beneath, which we were at perfect liberty to visit.
‘We went down, so as to leave no part of the palace unexplored. The vaults were, it was believed, used as dungeons18 in the old times — say, some centuries since. Air and light were only partially admitted to these dismal19 places by two long shafts20 of winding21 construction, which communicated with the back yard of the palace, and the openings of which, high above the ground, were protected by iron gratings. The stone stairs leading down into the vaults could be closed at will by a heavy trap-door in the back hall, which we found open. The Baron himself led the way down the stairs. We remarked that it might be awkward if that trap-door fell down and closed the opening behind us. The Baron smiled at the idea. “Don’t be alarmed, gentlemen,” he said; “the door is safe. I had an interest in seeing to it myself, when we first inhabited the palace. My favourite study is the study of experimental chemistry — and my workshop, since we have been in Venice, is down here.”
‘These last words explained a curious smell in the vaults, which we noticed the moment we entered them. We can only describe the smell by saying that it was of a twofold sort — faintly aromatic22, as it were, in its first effect, but with some after-odour very sickening in our nostrils23. The Baron’s furnaces and retorts, and other things, were all there to speak for themselves, together with some packages of chemicals, having the name and address of the person who had supplied them plainly visible on their labels. “Not a pleasant place for study,” Baron Rivar observed, “but my sister is timid. She has a horror of chemical smells and explosions — and she has banished24 me to these lower regions, so that my experiments may neither be smelt25 nor heard.” He held out his hands, on which we had noticed that he wore gloves in the house. “Accidents will happen sometimes,” he said, “no matter how careful a man may be. I burnt my hands severely26 in trying a new combination the other day, and they are only recovering now.”
‘We mention these otherwise unimportant incidents, in order to show that our exploration of the palace was not impeded27 by any attempt at concealment29. We were even admitted to her ladyship’s own room — on a subsequent occasion, when she went out to take the air. Our instructions recommended us to examine his lordship’s residence, because the extreme privacy of his life at Venice, and the remarkable30 departure of the only two servants in the house, might have some suspicious connection with the nature of his death. We found nothing to justify31 suspicion.
‘As to his lordship’s retired32 way of life, we have conversed33 on the subject with the consul34 and the banker — the only two strangers who held any communication with him. He called once at the bank to obtain money on his letter of credit, and excused himself from accepting an invitation to visit the banker at his private residence, on the ground of delicate health. His lordship wrote to the same effect on sending his card to the consul, to excuse himself from personally returning that gentleman’s visit to the palace. We have seen the letter, and we beg to offer the following copy of it. “Many years passed in India have injured my constitution. I have ceased to go into society; the one occupation of my life now is the study of Oriental literature. The air of Italy is better for me than the air of England, or I should never have left home. Pray accept the apologies of a student and an invalid35. The active part of my life is at an end.” The self-seclusion of his lordship seems to us to be explained in these brief lines. We have not, however, on that account spared our inquiries37 in other directions. Nothing to excite a suspicion of anything wrong has come to our knowledge.
‘As to the departure of the lady’s maid, we have seen the woman’s receipt for her wages, in which it is expressly stated that she left Lady Montbarry’s service because she disliked the Continent, and wished to get back to her own country. This is not an uncommon38 result of taking English servants to foreign parts. Lady Montbarry has informed us that she abstained39 from engaging another maid in consequence of the extreme dislike which his lordship expressed to having strangers in the house, in the state of his health at that time.
‘The disappearance40 of the courier Ferrari is, in itself, unquestionably a suspicious circumstance. Neither her ladyship nor the Baron can explain it; and no investigation41 that we could make has thrown the smallest light on this event, or has justified42 us in associating it, directly or indirectly43, with the object of our inquiry. We have even gone the length of examining the portmanteau which Ferrari left behind him. It contains nothing but clothes and linen44 — no money, and not even a scrap45 of paper in the pockets of the clothes. The portmanteau remains46 in charge of the police.
‘We have also found opportunities of speaking privately47 to the old woman who attends to the rooms occupied by her ladyship and the Baron. She was recommended to fill this situation by the keeper of the restaurant who has supplied the meals to the family throughout the period of their residence at the palace. Her character is most favourably48 spoken of. Unfortunately, her limited intelligence makes her of no value as a witness. We were patient and careful in questioning her, and we found her perfectly willing to answer us; but we could elicit50 nothing which is worth including in the present report.
‘On the second day of our inquiries, we had the honour of an interview with Lady Montbarry. Her ladyship looked miserably51 worn and ill, and seemed to be quite at a loss to understand what we wanted with her. Baron Rivar, who introduced us, explained the nature of our errand in Venice, and took pains to assure her that it was a purely52 formal duty on which we were engaged. Having satisfied her ladyship on this point, he discreetly53 left the room.
‘The questions which we addressed to Lady Montbarry related mainly, of course, to his lordship’s illness. The answers, given with great nervousness of manner, but without the slightest appearance of reserve, informed us of the facts that follow:
‘Lord Montbarry had been out of order for some time past — nervous and irritable54. He first complained of having taken cold on November 13 last; he passed a wakeful and feverish55 night, and remained in bed the next day. Her ladyship proposed sending for medical advice. He refused to allow her to do this, saying that he could quite easily be his own doctor in such a trifling56 matter as a cold. Some hot lemonade was made at his request, with a view to producing perspiration57. Lady Montbarry’s maid having left her at that time, the courier Ferrari (then the only servant in the house) went out to buy the lemons. Her ladyship made the drink with her own hands. It was successful in producing perspiration — and Lord Montbarry had some hours of sleep afterwards. Later in the day, having need of Ferrari’s services, Lady Montbarry rang for him. The bell was not answered. Baron Rivar searched for the man, in the palace and out of it, in vain. From that time forth58 not a trace of Ferrari could be discovered. This happened on November 14.
‘On the night of the 14th, the feverish symptoms accompanying his lordship’s cold returned. They were in part perhaps attributable to the annoyance59 and alarm caused by Ferrari’s mysterious disappearance. It had been impossible to conceal28 the circumstance, as his lordship rang repeatedly for the courier; insisting that the man should relieve Lady Montbarry and the Baron by taking their places during the night at his bedside.
‘On the 15th (the day on which the old woman first came to do the housework), his lordship complained of sore throat, and of a feeling of oppression on the chest. On this day, and again on the 16th, her ladyship and the Baron entreated60 him to see a doctor. He still refused. “I don’t want strange faces about me; my cold will run its course, in spite of the doctor,”— that was his answer. On the 17th he was so much worse that it was decided61 to send for medical help whether he liked it or not. Baron Rivar, after inquiry at the consul’s, secured the services of Doctor Bruno, well known as an eminent62 physician in Venice; with the additional recommendation of having resided in England, and having made himself acquainted with English forms of medical practice.
‘Thus far our account of his lordship’s illness has been derived63 from statements made by Lady Montbarry. The narrative64 will now be most fitly continued in the language of the doctor’s own report, herewith subjoined.
‘“My medical diary informs me that I first saw the English Lord Montbarry, on November 17. He was suffering from a sharp attack of bronchitis. Some precious time had been lost, through his obstinate65 objection to the presence of a medical man at his bedside. Generally speaking, he appeared to be in a delicate state of health. His nervous system was out of order — he was at once timid and contradictory66. When I spoke49 to him in English, he answered in Italian; and when I tried him in Italian, he went back to English. It mattered little — the malady67 had already made such progress that he could only speak a few words at a time, and those in a whisper.
‘“I at once applied68 the necessary remedies. Copies of my prescriptions69 (with translation into English) accompany the present statement, and are left to speak for themselves.
‘“For the next three days I was in constant attendance on my patient. He answered to the remedies employed — improving slowly, but decidedly. I could conscientiously70 assure Lady Montbarry that no danger was to be apprehended71 thus far. She was indeed a most devoted72 wife. I vainly endeavoured to induce her to accept the services of a competent nurse; she would allow nobody to attend on her husband but herself. Night and day this estimable woman was at his bedside. In her brief intervals73 of repose74, her brother watched the sick man in her place. This brother was, I must say, very good company, in the intervals when we had time for a little talk. He dabbled75 in chemistry, down in the horrid76 under-water vaults of the palace; and he wanted to show me some of his experiments. I have enough of chemistry in writing prescriptions — and I declined. He took it quite good-humouredly.
‘“I am straying away from my subject. Let me return to the sick lord.
‘“Up to the 20th, then, things went well enough. I was quite unprepared for the disastrous77 change that showed itself, when I paid Lord Montbarry my morning visit on the 21st. He had relapsed, and seriously relapsed. Examining him to discover the cause, I found symptoms of pneumonia78 — that is to say, in unmedical language, inflammation of the substance of the lungs. He breathed with difficulty, and was only partially able to relieve himself by coughing. I made the strictest inquiries, and was assured that his medicine had been administered as carefully as usual, and that he had not been exposed to any changes of temperature. It was with great reluctance79 that I added to Lady Montbarry’s distress80; but I felt bound, when she suggested a consultation81 with another physician, to own that I too thought there was really need for it.
‘“Her ladyship instructed me to spare no expense, and to get the best medical opinion in Italy. The best opinion was happily within our reach. The first and foremost of Italian physicians is Torello of Padua. I sent a special messenger for the great man. He arrived on the evening of the 21 st, and confirmed my opinion that pneumonia had set in, and that our patient’s life was in danger. I told him what my treatment of the case had been, and he approved of it in every particular. He made some valuable suggestions, and (at Lady Montbarry’s express request) he consented to defer82 his return to Padua until the following morning.
‘“We both saw the patient at intervals in the course of the night. The disease, steadily83 advancing, set our utmost resistance at defiance84. In the morning Doctor Torello took his leave. ‘I can be of no further use,’ he said to me. ‘The man is past all help — and he ought to know it.’
‘“Later in the day I warned my lord, as gently as I could, that his time had come. I am informed that there are serious reasons for my stating what passed between us on this occasion, in detail, and without any reserve. I comply with the request.
‘“Lord Montbarry received the intelligence of his approaching death with becoming composure, but with a certain doubt. He signed to me to put my ear to his mouth. He whispered faintly, ‘Are you sure?’ It was no time to deceive him; I said, ‘Positively sure.’ He waited a little, gasping85 for breath, and then he whispered again, ‘Feel under my pillow.’ I found under his pillow a letter, sealed and stamped, ready for the post. His next words were just audible and no more —‘Post it yourself.’ I answered, of course, that I would do so — and I did post the letter with my own hand. I looked at the address. It was directed to a lady in London. The street I cannot remember. The name I can perfectly recall: it was an Italian name —‘Mrs. Ferrari.’
‘“That night my lord nearly died of asphyxia. I got him through it for the time; and his eyes showed that he understood me when I told him, the next morning, that I had posted the letter. This was his last effort of consciousness. When I saw him again he was sunk in apathy86. He lingered in a state of insensibility, supported by stimulants87, until the 25th, and died (unconscious to the last) on the evening of that day.
‘“As to the cause of his death, it seems (if I may be excused for saying so) simply absurd to ask the question. Bronchitis, terminating in pneumonia — there is no more doubt that this, and this only, was the malady of which he expired, than that two and two make four. Doctor Torello’s own note of the case is added here to a duplicate of my certificate, in order (as I am informed) to satisfy some English offices in which his lordship’s life was insured. The English offices must have been founded by that celebrated88 saint and doubter, mentioned in the New Testament89, whose name was Thomas!”
‘Doctor Bruno’s evidence ends here.
‘Reverting for a moment to our inquiries addressed to Lady Montbarry, we have to report that she can give us no information on the subject of the letter which the doctor posted at Lord Montbarry’s request. When his lordship wrote it? what it contained? why he kept it a secret from Lady Montbarry (and from the Baron also); and why he should write at all to the wife of his courier? these are questions to which we find it simply impossible to obtain any replies. It seems even useless to say that the matter is open to suspicion. Suspicion implies conjecture90 of some kind — and the letter under my lord’s pillow baffles all conjecture. Application to Mrs. Ferrari may perhaps clear up the mystery. Her residence in London will be easily discovered at the Italian Couriers’ Office, Golden Square.
‘Having arrived at the close of the present report, we have now to draw your attention to the conclusion which is justified by the results of our investigation.
‘The plain question before our Directors and ourselves appears to be this: Has the inquiry revealed any extraordinary circumstances which render the death of Lord Montbarry open to suspicion? The inquiry has revealed extraordinary circumstances beyond all doubt — such as the disappearance of Ferrari, the remarkable absence of the customary establishment of servants in the house, and the mysterious letter which his lordship asked the doctor to post. But where is the proof that any one of these circumstances is associated — suspiciously and directly associated — with the only event which concerns us, the event of Lord Montbarry’s death? In the absence of any such proof, and in the face of the evidence of two eminent physicians, it is impossible to dispute the statement on the certificate that his lordship died a natural death. We are bound, therefore, to report, that there are no valid36 grounds for refusing the payment of the sum for which the late Lord Montbarry’s life was assured.
‘We shall send these lines to you by the post of to-morrow, December 10; leaving time to receive your further instructions (if any), in reply to our telegram of this evening announcing the conclusion of the inquiry.’
收听单词发音 |
1
advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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53
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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54
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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56
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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57
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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58
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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59
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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60
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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prescriptions
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| 药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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dabbled
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| v.涉猎( dabble的过去式和过去分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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pneumonia
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| n.肺炎 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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stimulants
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| n.兴奋剂( stimulant的名词复数 )；含兴奋剂的饮料；刺激物；激励物 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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