To Mr. & Mrs. Sebastian Schlesinger in Remembrance of Much Kindness and of Many Happy Days...

In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from t...

In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from t...

“It is one fact, sir, that I am a widow,” she said. “It is another fact, that I am going to be married again.” There she paused, and smiled at some thought that occurred to her. Doctor Wybrow was not ...

There was a time when a man in search of the pleasures of gossip sought the society of ladies. The man knows better now. He goes to the smoking-room of his club. Doctor Wybrow lit his cigar, and looke...

On the day of the marriage Agnes Lockwood sat alone in the little drawing-room of her London lodgings, burning the letters which had been written to her by Montbarry in the bygone time. The Countess’s...

After only one week of travelling in Scotland, my lord and my lady returned unexpectedly to London. Introduced to the mountains and lakes of the Highlands, her ladyship positively declined to improve ...

After only one week of travelling in Scotland, my lord and my lady returned unexpectedly to London. Introduced to the mountains and lakes of the Highlands, her ladyship positively declined to improve ...

The next day, the friend and legal adviser of Agnes Lockwood, Mr. Troy, called on her by appointment in the evening. Mrs. Ferrari⁠—still persisting in the conviction of her husband’s death⁠—had suffic...

Some days later, the insurance offices (two in number) received the formal announcement of Lord Montbarry’s death, from her ladyship’s London solicitors. The sum insured in each office was five thousa...

On the 14th the Directors and their legal advisers met for the reading of the report, with closed doors. These were the terms in which the Commissioners related the results of their inquiry: “Private ...

“Now, my good creature, whatever you have to say to me, out with it at once! I don’t want to hurry you needlessly; but these are business hours, and I have other people’s affairs to attend to besides ...

In the meantime, Mrs. Ferrari held to her resolution. She went straight from Mr. Troy’s office to Newbury’s Hotel. Lady Montbarry was at home, and alone. But the authorities of the hotel hesitated to ...

“Lady Montbarry, Miss.” Agnes was writing a letter, when the servant astonished her by announcing the visitor’s name. Her first impulse was to refuse to see the woman who had intruded on her. But Lady...

“Do you think she is mad?” Agnes asked. “I think she is simply wicked. False, superstitious, inveterately cruel⁠—but not mad. I believe her main motive in coming here was to enjoy the luxury of fright...

In the spring of the year 1861, Agnes was established at the country-seat of her two friends⁠—now promoted (on the death of the first lord, without offspring) to be the new Lord and Lady Montbarry. Th...

In the spring of the year 1861, Agnes was established at the country-seat of her two friends⁠—now promoted (on the death of the first lord, without offspring) to be the new Lord and Lady Montbarry. Th...

As the summer months advanced, the transformation of the Venetian palace into the modern hotel proceeded rapidly towards completion. The outside of the building, with its fine Palladian front looking ...

(Miss Agnes Lockwood to Mrs. Ferrari) “I promised to give you some account, dear Emily, of the marriage of Mr. Arthur Barville and Miss Haldane. It took place ten days since. But I have had so many th...

It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris. Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy⁠—at least three weeks before ...

It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris. Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy⁠—at least three weeks before ...

The Palace Hotel, appealing for encouragement mainly to English and American travellers, celebrated the opening of its doors, as a matter of course, by the giving of a grand banquet, and the delivery ...

Before the end of the week, the manager found himself in relations with “the family” once more. A telegram from Milan announced that Mr. Francis Westwick would arrive in Venice on the next day; and wo...

Avoiding the crowd under the colonnades, Francis walked slowly up and down the noble open space of the square, bathed in the light of the rising moon. Without being aware of it himself, he was a thoro...

“Shall I see you again?” she asked, as she held out her hand to take leave. “It is quite understood between us, I suppose, about the play?” Francis recalled his extraordinary experience of that evenin...

Lord and Lady Montbarry were received by the housekeeper; the manager being absent for a day or two on business connected with the affairs of the hotel. The rooms reserved for the travellers on the fi...

Having closed and secured the door on Lady Montbarry’s departure, Agnes put on her dressing-gown, and, turning to her open boxes, began the business of unpacking. In the hurry of making her toilet for...

“… You have some influence over Agnes. Try what you can do, Henry, to make her take a sensible view of the matter. There is really nothing to make a fuss about. My wife’s maid knocked at her door earl...

Henry and Agnes were left alone in the Room of the Caryatides. The person who had written the description of the palace⁠—probably a poor author or artist⁠—had correctly pointed out the defects of the ...

The day had advanced to evening. Lord Montbarry and the bridal party had gone to the Opera. Agnes alone, pleading the excuse of fatigue, remained at the hotel. Having kept up appearances by accompanyi...

Entering his own room on the upper floor, Henry placed the manuscript on his table, open at the first leaf. His nerves were unquestionably shaken; his hand trembled as he turned the pages, he started ...

Henry returned to his room. His first impulse was to throw aside the manuscript, and never to look at it again. The one chance of relieving his mind from the dreadful uncertainty that oppressed it, by...

So the Second Act ended. Turning to the Third Act, Henry looked wearily at the pages as he let them slip through his fingers. Both in mind and body, he began to feel the need of repose. In one importa...

A last chance of deciding the difference of opinion between the two brothers remained in Henry’s possession. He had his own idea of the use to which he might put the false teeth as a means of inquiry ...