the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第45节
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'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？
The question involved considerations too serious to be made the
subject of a hasty decision。 Reserving his opinion； Henry turned the page；
and devoted himself to the reading of the next act。 The manuscript
proceeded as follows：
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'The Second Act opens at Venice。 An interval of four months has
elapsed since the date of the scene at the gambling table。 The action now
takes place in the reception…room of one of the Venetian palaces。
'The Baron is discovered； alone； on the stage。 He reverts to the
events which have happened since the close of the First Act。 The Countess
has sacrificed herself； the mercenary marriage has taken placebut not
without obstacles； caused by difference of opinion on the question of
marriage settlements。
'Private inquiries； instituted in England； have informed the Baron that
my Lord's income is derived chiefly from what is called entailed property。
In case of accidents； he is surely bound to do something for his bride？ Let
him； for example； insure his life； for a sum proposed by the Baron； and let
him so settle the money that his widow shall have it； if he dies first。
'My Lord hesitates。 The Baron wastes no time in useless discussion。
〃Let us by all means〃 （he says） 〃consider the marriage as broken off。〃 My
Lord shifts his ground； and pleads for a smaller sum than the sum
proposed。 The Baron briefly replies； 〃I never bargain。〃 My lord is in love；
the natural result followshe gives way。
'So far； the Baron has no cause to complain。 But my Lord's turn
comes； when the marriage has been celebrated； and when the honeymoon
is over。 The Baron has joined the married pair at a palace which they have
hired in Venice。 He is still bent on solving the problem of the
〃Philosopher's Stone。〃 His laboratory is set up in the vaults beneath the
palaceso that smells from chemical experiments may not incommode the
Countess； in the higher regions of the house。 The one obstacle in the way
of his grand discovery is； as usual； the want of money。 His position at the
present time has become truly critical。 He owes debts of honour to
gentlemen in his own rank of life； which must positively be paid； and he
proposes； in his own friendly manner； to borrow the money of my Lord。
My Lord positively refuses； in the rudest terms。 The Baron applies to his
sister to exercise her conjugal influence。 She can only answer that her
noble husband （being no longer distractedly in love with her） now appears
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
in his true character； as one of the meanest men living。 The sacrifice of the
marriage has been made； and has already proved useless。
'Such is the state of affairs at the opening of the Second Act。
'The entrance of the Countess suddenly disturbs the Baron's reflections。
She is in a state bordering on frenzy。 Incoherent expressions of rage
burst from her lips： it is some time before she can sufficiently control
herself to speak plainly。 She has been doubly insulted first； by a menial
person in her employment； secondly； by her husband。 Her maid； an
Englishwoman； has declared that she will serve the Countess no longer。
She will give up her wages； and return at once to England。 Being asked
her reason for this strange proceeding； she insolently hints that the
Countess's service is no service for an honest woman； since the Baron has
entered the house。 The Countess does； what any lady in her position would
do； she indignantly dismisses the wretch on the spot。
'My Lord； hearing his wife's voice raised in anger； leaves the study in
which he is accustomed to shut himself up over his books； and asks what
this disturbance means。 The Countess informs him of the outrageous
language and conduct of her maid。 My Lord not only declares his entire
approval of the woman's conduct； but expresses his own abominable
doubts of his wife's fidelity in language of such horrible brutality that no
lady could pollute her lips by repeating it。 〃If I had been a man；〃 the
Countess says； 〃and if I had had a weapon in my hand； I would have
struck him dead at my feet！〃
'The Baron； listening silently so far； now speaks。 〃Permit me to
finish the sentence for you；〃 he says。 〃You would have struck your
husband dead at your feet； and by that rash act； you would have deprived
yourself of the insurance money settled on the widow the very money
which is wanted to relieve your brother from the unendurable pecuniary
position which he now occupies！〃
'The Countess gravely reminds the Baron that this is no joking matter。
After what my Lord has said to her； she has little doubt that he will
communicate his infamous suspicions to his lawyers in England。 If
nothing is done to prevent it； she may be divorced and disgraced； and
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thrown on the world； with no resource but the sale of her jewels to keep
her from starving。
'At this moment； the Courier who has been engaged to travel with my
Lord from England crosses the stage with a letter to take to the post。 The
Countess stops him； and asks to look at the address on the letter。 She takes
it from him for a moment； and shows it to her brother。 The handwriting is
my Lord's； and the letter is directed to his lawyers in London。
'The Courier proceeds to the post…office。 The Baron and the Countess
look at each other in silence。 No words are needed。 They thoroughly
understand the position in which they are placed； they clearly see the
terrible remedy for it。 What is the plain alternative before them？
Disgrace and ruinor； my Lord's death and the insurance money！
'The Baron walks backwards and forwards in great agitation； talking to
himself。 The Countess hears fragments of what he is saying。 He speaks
of my Lord's constitution； probably weakened in India of a cold which
my Lord has caught two or three days since of the remarkable manner in
which such slight things as colds sometimes end in serious illness and
death。
'He observes that the Countess is listening to him； and asks if she has
anything to propose。 She is a woman who； with many defects； has the
great merit of speaking out。 〃Is there no such thing as a serious illness；〃
she asks； 〃corked up in one of those bottles of yours in the vaults
downstairs？〃
'The Baron answers by gravely shaking his head。 What is he afraid
of？ a possible examination of the body after death？ No： he can set
any pos
