the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第44节
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
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；
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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
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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
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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 tru
