# IV explained — The Haunted Hotel

> Chapter companion for The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

Agnes Lockwood burns her letters from Lord Montbarry, including a lock of his hair, on the day of his marriage to the Countess Narona. Henry Westwick visits to say goodbye before leaving London, expressing anger at his brother's betrayal. Agnes defends the Countess, insisting she was unaware of the engagement. Later, Mrs. Ferrari (Emily Bidwell) asks Agnes to allow her husband to mention her name in a letter to Lord Montbarry to secure a courier position. Agnes reluctantly agrees, and Ferrari is hired.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Secrets

Agnes unknowingly aids the Countess's scheme by allowing her name to be used in Ferrari's letter, facilitating the courier's employment.

### Love and Betrayal

Agnes burns Montbarry's letters on his wedding day, symbolizing the end of their relationship; Henry's anger reflects the betrayal.

### Fate and Inevitability

Agnes wonders if the tie with Montbarry is truly broken, and her small act of kindness leads to Ferrari's hiring, setting future events in motion.

## Character check-ins

### Agnes Lockwood

Burns Montbarry's letters and a lock of his hair; receives Henry Westwick; reluctantly allows her name to be used in Ferrari's letter to Montbarry.

### Henry Westwick

Visits Agnes to say goodbye before leaving London; expresses anger at his brother's betrayal and defends Agnes's right to be just.

### Mrs. Ferrari

Asks Agnes to let her husband mention her name in a letter to Lord Montbarry; succeeds in getting Ferrari hired as courier.

### Lord Montbarry

Marries the Countess Narona; hires Ferrari as his courier based on Agnes's indirect reference.

### Countess Narona

Marries Lord Montbarry; described by Agnes as timid and nervous, fainting from heat.

## Key lines

> 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.

On her former lover's wedding day, Agnes Lockwood privately destroyed all his old letters in her London home.

_Establishes the chapter's setting and Agnes's emotional state._

> He will live to rue the day when he married that woman!

Henry predicts that Montbarry will eventually regret his marriage to the Countess.

_Foreshadows future misfortune for Lord Montbarry._

> I have destroyed the last visible things that remind me of him. In this world I shall see him no more. But is the tie that once bound us, completely broken?

Agnes has erased all physical reminders of Montbarry, yet questions whether their emotional connection is truly severed.

_Highlights Agnes's inner conflict and the theme of fate._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_haunted_hotel_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_haunted_hotel_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_haunted_hotel_se/chapters