the haunted hotel-第39节
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CHAPTER XXVI
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 at chance noises on the staircase of the hotel。
The scenario； or outline； of the Countess's play began with no
formal prefatory phrases。 She presented herself and her work
with the easy familiarity of an old friend。
'Allow me； dear Mr。 Francis Westwick； to introduce to you the persons
in my proposed Play。 Behold them； arranged symmetrically in a line。
'My Lord。 The Baron。 The Courier。 The Doctor。 The Countess。
'I don't trouble myself； you see； to invest fictitious family names。
My characters are sufficiently distinguished by their social titles；
and by the striking contrast which they present one with another。
The First Act opens
'No！ Before I open the First Act； I must announce； injustice to myself；
that this Play is entirely the work of my own invention。 I scorn
to borrow from actual events； and； what is more extraordinary still；
I have not stolen one of my ideas from the Modern French drama。
As the manager of an English theatre； you will naturally refuse to
believe this。 It doesn't matter。 Nothing mattersexcept the opening
of my first act。
'We are at Homburg； in the famous Salon d'Or； at the height of the season。
The Countess （exquisitely dressed） is seated at the green table。
Strangers of all nations are standing behind the players； venturing
their money or only looking on。 My Lord is among the strangers。
He is struck by the Countess's personal appearance； in which beauties
and defects are fantastically mingled in the most attractive manner。
He watches the Countess's game； and places his money where he sees
her deposit her own little stake。 She looks round at him； and says；
〃Don't trust to my colour； I have been unlucky the whole evening。
Place your stake on the other colour； and you may have a chance
of winning。〃 My Lord （a true Englishman） blushes； bows； and obeys。
The Countess proves to be a prophet。 She loses again。 My Lord wins twice
the sum that he has risked。
'The Countess rises from the table。 She has no more money；
and she offers my Lord her chair。
'Instead of taking it； he politely places his winnings in her hand；
and begs her to accept the loan as a favour to himself。
The Countess stakes again； and loses again。 My Lord smiles superbly；
and presses a second loan on her。 From that moment her luck turns。
She wins； and wins largely。 Her brother； the Baron； trying his fortune
in another room； hears of what is going on； and joins my Lord and
the Countess。
'Pay attention； if you please； to the Baron。 He is delineated
as a remarkable and interesting character。
'This noble person has begun life with a single…minded devotion
to the science of experimental chemistry； very surprising in a young
and handsome man with a brilliant future before him。 A profound
knowledge of the occult sciences has persuaded the Baron that it is
possible to solve the famous problem called the 〃Philosopher's Stone。〃
His own pecuniary resources have long since been exhausted by his
costly experiments。 His sister has next supplied him with the small
fortune at her disposal： reserving only the family jewels；
placed in the charge of her banker and friend at Frankfort。
The Countess's fortune also being swallowed up； the Baron has
in a fatal moment sought for new supplies at the gaming table。
He proves； at starting on his perilous career； to be a favourite
of fortune； wins largely； and； alas！ profanes his noble enthusiasm
for science by yielding his soul to the all…debasing passion of
the gamester。
'At the period of the Play； the Baron's good fortune has deserted him。
He sees his way to a crowning experiment in the fatal search
after the secret of transmuting the baser elements into gold。
But how is he to pay the preliminary expenses？ Destiny； like a
mocking echo； answers； How？
'Will his sister's winnings （with my Lord's money） prove large enough
to help him？ Eager for this result； he gives the Countess his advice
how to play。 From that disastrous moment the infection of his own
adverse fortune spreads to his sister。 She loses again； and again
loses to the last farthing。
'The amiable and wealthy Lord offers a third loan；
but the scrupulous Countess positively refuses to take it。
On leaving the table； she presents her brother to my Lord。
The gentlemen fall into pleasant talk。 My Lord asks leave to pay
his respects to the Countess； the next morning； at her hotel。
The Baron hospitably invites him to breakfast。 My Lord accepts；
with a last admiring glance at the Countess which does not escape her
brother's observation； and takes his leave for the night。
'Alone with his sister； the Baron speaks out plainly。 〃Our affairs；〃
he says； 〃are in a desperate condition； and must find a desperate remedy。
Wait for me here； while I make inquiries about my Lord。
You have evidently produced a strong impression on him。 If we
can turn that impression into money； no matter at what sacrifice；
the thing must be done。〃
'The Countess now occupies the stage alone； and indulges
in a soliloquy which develops her character。
'It is at once a dangerous and attractive character。
Immense capacities for good are implanted in her nature；
side by side with equally remarkable capacities for evil。
It rests with circumstances to develop either the one or the other。
Being a person who produces a sensation wherever she goes； this noble
lady is naturally made the subject of all sorts of scandalous reports。
To one of these reports （which falsely and abominably points to the Baron
as her lover instead of her brother） she now refers with just indignation。
She has just expressed her desire to leave Homburg； as the place
in which the vile calumny first took its rise； when the Baron returns；
overhears her last words； and says to her； 〃Yes； leave Homburg
by all means； provided you leave it in the character of my Lord's
betrothed wife！〃
'The Countess is startled and shocked。 She protests that she
does not reciprocate my Lord's admiration for her。 She even goes
the length of refusing to see him again。 The Baron answers；
〃I must positively have command of money。 Take your choice；
between marrying my Lord's income； in the interest of my grand discovery
or leave me to sell myself and my title to the first rich woman
of low degree who is ready to buy me。〃
'The Countess listens in surprise and dismay。 Is it possible
that the Baron is in earnest？ He is horribly in earnest。
〃The woman who will buy me；〃 he says； 〃is in the next room to us
at this moment。 She is the wealthy widow of a Jewish usurer。
She has the money I want to reach the solution of the great problem。
I have only to be that woman's husband； and to make myself master of untold
millions of gold。 Take five minutes to consider what I have said to you；
and tell me on my return which of us is to marry for the money I want；
you or I。〃
'As he turns away； the Countess stops him。
'All the noblest sentiments in her nature are exalted to
the highest pitch。 〃Where is the true woman；〃 she exclaims；
〃who wants time to consummate the sacrifice of herself； when the man
to whom she is devoted demands it？ She does not want five minutes
she does not want five secondsshe holds out her hand to him；
and she says； Sacrifice me on the altar of your glory！ Take as
stepping…stones on the way to your triumph； my love； my liberty；
and my life！〃
'On this grand situation the curtain falls。 Judging by my first act；
Mr。 Westwick； tell me truly； and don't be afraid of turning my head：
Am I not capable of writing a good play？'
Henry paused between the First and Second Acts； reflecting； not on
the merits of the play； but on the strange resemblance which
the incidents so far presented to the incidents that had attended
the disastrous marriage of the first Lord Montbarry。
Was it possible that the Countess； in the present condition of her mind；
supposed herself to be exercising her invention when she was only
exercising her memory？
