the haunted hotel-第42节
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He walked up and down the room。 After an interval； his thoughts
took a new direction； the question of the manuscript presented
itself under another point of view。 Thus far； his reading
had only informed him that the conspiracy had been planned。
How did he know that the plan had been put in execution？
The manuscript lay just before him on the floor。 He hesitated；
then picked it up； and； returning to the table； read on as follows；
from the point at which he had left off。
'While the Countess is still absorbed in the bold yet simple combination
of circumstances which she has discovered； the Baron returns。
He takes a serious view of the case of the Courier； it may be necessary；
he thinks； to send for medical advice。 No servant is left in the palace；
now the English maid has taken her departure。 The Baron himself
must fetch the doctor； if the doctor is really needed。
' 〃Let us have medical help； by all means；〃 his sister replies。
〃But wait and hear something that I have to say to you first。〃
She then electrifies the Baron by communicating her idea
to him。 What danger of discovery have they to dread？
My Lord's life in Venice has been a life of absolute seclusion：
nobody but his banker knows him； even by personal appearance。
He has presented his letter of credit as a perfect stranger；
and he and his banker have never seen each other since that
first visit。 He has given no parties； and gone to no parties。
On the few occasions when he has hired a gondola or taken a walk；
he has always been alone。 Thanks to the atrocious suspicion
which makes him ashamed of being seen with his wife； he has
led the very life which makes the proposed enterprise easy
of accomplishment。
'The cautious Baron listensbut gives no positive opinion； as yet。
〃See what you can do with the Courier；〃 he says； 〃and I will decide
when I hear the result。 One valuable hint I may give you before you go。
Your man is easily tempted by moneyif you only offer him enough。
The other day； I asked him； in jest； what he would do for a
thousand pounds。 He answered； 'Anything。' Bear that in mind； and offer
your highest bid without bargaining。〃
'The scene changes to the Courier's room； and shows the poor wretch
with a photographic portrait of his wife in his hand； crying。
The Countess enters。
'She wisely begins by sympathising with her contemplated accomplice。
He is duly grateful； he confides his sorrows to his gracious mistress。
Now that he believes himself to be on his death…bed； he feels remorse
for his neglectful treatment of his wife。 He could resign himself to die；
but despair overpowers him when he remembers that he has saved no money；
and that he will leave his widow； without resources； to the mercy of
the world。
'On this hint； the Countess speaks。 〃Suppose you were asked to do
a perfectly easy thing；〃 she says； 〃and suppose you were rewarded for
doing it by a present of a thousand pounds； as a legacy for your widow？〃
'The Courier raises himself on his pillow； and looks at the Countess
with an expression of incredulous surprise。 She can hardly be
cruel enough （he thinks） to joke with a man in his miserable plight。
Will she say plainly what this perfectly easy thing is； the doing
of which will meet with such a magnificent reward？
'The Countess answers that question by confiding her project
to the Courier； without the slightest reserve。
'Some minutes of silence follow when she has done。 The Courier
is not weak enough yet to speak without stopping to think first。
Still keeping his eyes on the Countess； he makes a quaintly
insolent remark on what he has just heard。 〃I have not hitherto
been a religious man； but I feel myself on the way to it。
Since your ladyship has spoken to me； I believe in the Devil。〃
It is the Countess's interest to see the humorous side of this
confession of faith。 She takes no offence。 She only says；
〃I will give you half an hour by yourself； to think over my proposal。
You are in danger of death。 Decide； in your wife's interests； whether you
will die worth nothing； or die worth a thousand pounds。〃
'Left alone； the Courier seriously considers his position
and decides。 He rises with difficulty； writes a few lines on a leaf
taken from his pocket…book； and； with slow and faltering steps；
leaves the room。
'The Countess； returning at the expiration of the half…hour's interval；
finds the room empty。 While she is wondering； the Courier opens
the door。 What has he been doing out of his bed？ He answers；
〃I have been protecting my own life； my lady； on the bare chance
that I may recover from the bronchitis for the third time。
If you or the Baron attempts to hurry me out of this world；
or to deprive me of my thousand pounds reward； I shall tell the doctor
where he will find a few lines of writing； which describe your
ladyship's plot。 I may not have strength enough； in the case supposed；
to betray you by making a complete confession with my own lips；
but I can employ my last breath to speak the half…dozen words
which will tell the doctor where he is to look。 Those words；
it is needless to add； will be addressed to your Ladyship； if I find
your engagements towards me faithfully kept。〃
'With this audacious preface； he proceeds to state the conditions on
which he will play his part in the conspiracy； and die （if he does die）
worth a thousand pounds。
'Either the Countess or the Baron are to taste the food and drink
brought to his bedside； in his presence； and even the medicines which
the doctor may prescribe for him。 As for the promised sum of money；
it is to be produced in one bank…note； folded in a sheet of paper；
on which a line is to be written； dictated by the Courier。
The two enclosures are then to be sealed up in an envelope；
addressed to his wife； and stamped ready for the post。 This done；
the letter is to be placed under his pillow； the Baron or the Countess
being at liberty to satisfy themselves； day by day； at their own time；
that the letter remains in its place； with the seal unbroken；
as long as the doctor has any hope of his patient's recovery。
The last stipulation follows。 The Courier has a conscience； and with
a view to keeping it easy； insists that he shall be left in ignorance
of that part of the plot which relates to the sequestration of my Lord。
Not that he cares particularly what becomes of his miserly master
but he does dislike taking other people's responsibilities on his
own shoulders。
'These conditions being agreed to； the Countess calls in the Baron；
who has been waiting events in the next room。
'He is informed that the Courier has yielded to temptation；
but he is still too cautious to make any compromising remarks。
Keeping his back turned on the bed； he shows a bottle to the Countess。
It is labelled 〃Chloroform。〃 She understands that my Lord is to be
removed from his room in a convenient state of insensibility。
In what part of the palace is he to be hidden？ As they open
the door to go out； the Countess whispers that question
to the Baron。 The Baron whispers back； 〃In the vaults！〃
The curtain falls。'
CHAPTER XXVIII
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 important respect； the later portion of the manuscript
differed from the pages which he had just been reading。
Signs of an overwrought brain showed themselves； here and there；
as the outline of the play approached its end。 The handwriting grew
worse and worse。 Some of the longer sentences were left unfinished。
In the exchange of dialogue； questions and answers were not always
attributed respectively to the right speaker。 At certain intervals
the writer's failing intelligence seemed to recover itself for a while；
only to relapse again； and to lose the thread of the narrative more
hopelessly than ever。
After reading one or two of the more coherent passages Henry recoiled
from the ever…darkening horror of the story。 He closed the manuscript；
heartsick and exhausted； and threw himself on his bed to rest。
The door opened almost at the same moment。 Lord Montbarry entered
the ro
