The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins

In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported

‘It is one fact, sir, that I am a widow,’ she said. ‘It is another fact, that I am going

There was a time when a man in search of the pleasures of gossip sought the society of ladies. The

On the day of the marriage Agnes Lockwood sat alone in the little drawing-room of her London lodgings, burning the

After only one week of travelling in Scotland, my lord and my lady returned unexpectedly to London. Introduced to the

The next day, the friend and legal adviser of Agnes Lockwood, Mr. Troy, called on her by appointment in the

Some days later, the insurance offices (two in number) received the formal announcement of Lord Montbarry’s death, from her ladyship’s

On the 14th the Directors and their legal advisers met for the reading of the report, with closed doors. These

‘Now, my good creature, whatever you have to say to me, out with it at once! I don’t want to

In the mean time, Mrs. Ferrari held to her resolution. She went straight from Mr. Troy’s office to Newbury’s Hotel.

‘Lady Montbarry, Miss.’ Agnes was writing a letter, when the servant astonished her by announcing the visitor’s name. Her first

‘Do you think she is mad?’ Agnes asked. ‘I think she is simply wicked. False, superstitious, inveterately cruel—but not mad.

In the spring of the year 1861, Agnes was established at the country-seat of her two friends—now promoted (on the

As the summer months advanced, the transformation of the Venetian palace into the modern hotel proceeded rapidly towards completion. The

(MISS AGNES LOCKWOOD TO MRS. FERRARI) ‘I promised to give you some account, dear Emily, of the marriage of Mr.

It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris. Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis

The Palace Hotel, appealing for encouragement mainly to English and American travellers, celebrated the opening of its doors, as a

Before the end of the week, the manager found himself in relations with ‘the family’ once more. A telegram from

Avoiding the crowd under the colonnades, Francis walked slowly up and down the noble open space of the square, bathed

‘Shall I see you again?’ she asked, as she held out her hand to take leave. ‘It is quite understood

Lord and Lady Montbarry were received by the housekeeper; the manager being absent for a day or two on business

Having closed and secured the door on Lady Montbarry’s departure, Agnes put on her dressing-gown, and, turning to her open

‘…You have some influence over Agnes. Try what you can do, Henry, to make her take a sensible view of

Henry and Agnes were left alone in the Room of the Caryatides. The person who had written the description of

The day had advanced to evening. Lord Montbarry and the bridal party had gone to the Opera. Agnes alone, pleading

Entering his own room on the upper floor, Henry placed the manuscript on his table, open at the first leaf.

Henry returned to his room. His first impulse was to throw aside the manuscript, and never to look at it

So the Second Act ended. Turning to the Third Act, Henry looked wearily at the pages as he let them

A last chance of deciding the difference of opinion between the two brothers remained in Henry’s possession. He had his