# V explained — The Haunted Hotel

> Chapter companion for The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

After a brief and unhappy trip to Scotland, Lord and Lady Montbarry return to London and then depart for Italy. Agnes Lockwood, still recovering from her broken engagement, visits a friend in Ireland. Upon returning to London, she learns from Mrs. Ferrari that her husband, the courier Ferrari, has disappeared without warning while serving the Montbarrys in Venice. Mrs. Ferrari receives a letter from Venice containing a Bank of England note for a thousand pounds, suggesting foul play.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Secrets

Ferrari's unexplained disappearance and the mysterious thousand-pound note suggest hidden motives and possible foul play within the Montbarry household.

### Guilt and Retribution

Lord Montbarry's declining health and Agnes's lingering pain hint at the emotional consequences of past betrayals.

## Character check-ins

### Agnes Lockwood

Returns to London after a three-month stay in Ireland; learns of Ferrari's disappearance and tries to comfort Mrs. Ferrari.

### Mrs. Ferrari

Distraught over her husband's disappearance; brings news from the couriers' office and later receives a mysterious thousand-pound note from Venice.

### Lord Montbarry

Returns unexpectedly from Scotland, looks ill, and departs for Italy with his wife; later reported to be in seclusion in Venice.

### Lady Montbarry

Accompanies her husband to Italy; described as gracious but involved in suspicious circumstances surrounding Ferrari's disappearance.

### Baron Rivar

Lady Montbarry's brother; joins the couple in Rome; reportedly a gambler and engaged in chemical experiments in Venice.

### Mrs. Westwick

Agnes's old friend; invites her to stay in Ireland for three months.

## Key lines

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

Lord and Lady Montbarry cut short their Scottish honeymoon and came back to London after just a week.

_Highlights the couple's restless and unhappy start to their marriage._

> Her husband has left Lord Montbarry, without a word of warning—and nobody knows what has become of him.

Ferrari abandoned his post with Lord Montbarry suddenly, and his whereabouts are unknown.

_Introduces the central mystery of Ferrari's disappearance._

> To console you for the loss of your husband.

This note is meant to comfort you after your husband's disappearance.

_The cryptic message accompanying the thousand-pound note implies that Ferrari is dead or gone for good._

## Links

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