# XXVIII explained — The Haunted Hotel

> Chapter companion for The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

Henry Westwick, exhausted from reading the Countess's play, discusses its contents with his brother Stephen (Lord Montbarry). Henry believes the play is a confession of the murderous conspiracy that killed their elder brother, but Stephen dismisses it as the ravings of a madwoman. Stephen reads fragments of the Third Act describing a plot to poison and cremate a victim, but refuses to accept Henry's interpretation. He burns the manuscript, declares all supernatural events delusions, and announces the family will leave Venice the next morning.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Retribution

Henry feels remorse for his earlier indifference toward his elder brother, and the play's narrative describes a murderous conspiracy and its aftermath.

### Deception and Secrets

The Countess's play is revealed as a confession of hidden crimes, including a plot to poison and cremate a victim, while Stephen attempts to suppress the truth by burning the manuscript.

## Character check-ins

### Henry Westwick

Exhausted and heartsick after reading the Countess's play; he believes it is a confession of the murder of his elder brother and feels remorse for his earlier indifference.

### Stephen Robert Westwick

Now Lord Montbarry and head of the family; he dismisses Henry's conclusions, burns the manuscript, and declares all supernatural events delusions.

## Key lines

> Both in mind and body, he began to feel the need of repose.

Henry was mentally and physically exhausted and needed rest.

_Describes Henry's state after reading the play._

> Face the truth honestly, Stephen, and say her memory.

Admit the truth: it is her memory, not her invention.

_Henry corrects Stephen's dismissal of the play as mere invention._

> I believe in nothing, nothing, nothing!

I refuse to believe any of it.

_Stephen's emphatic rejection of all supernatural and criminal interpretations._

## Links

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