the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第46节
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of？ a possible examination of the body after death？ No： he can set
any post…mortem examination at defiance。 It is the process of
administering the poison that he dreads。 A man so distinguished as my
Lord cannot be taken seriously ill without medical attendance。 Where
there is a Doctor； there is always danger of discovery。 Then； again； there is
the Courier； faithful to my Lord as long as my Lord pays him。 Even if
the Doctor sees nothing suspicious； the Courier may discover something。
The poison； to do its work with the necessary secrecy； must be repeatedly
administered in graduated doses。 One trifling miscalculation or mistake
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may rouse suspicion。 The insurance offices may hear of it； and may refuse
to pay the money。 As things are； the Baron will not risk it； and will not
allow his sister to risk it in his place。
'My Lord himself is the next character who appears。 He has
repeatedly rung for the Courier； and the bell has not been answered。 〃What
does this insolence mean？〃
'The Countess （speaking with quiet dignityfor why should her
infamous husband have the satisfaction of knowing how deeply he has
wounded her？） reminds my Lord that the Courier has gone to the post。 My
Lord asks suspiciously if she has looked at the letter。 The Countess
informs him coldly that she has no curiosity about his letters。 Referring
to the cold from which he is suffering； she inquires if he thinks of
consulting a medical man。 My Lord answers roughly that he is quite old
enough to be capable of doctoring himself。
'As he makes this reply； the Courier appears； returning from the post。
My Lord gives him orders to go out again and buy some lemons。 He
proposes to try hot lemonade as a means of inducing perspiration in bed。
In that way he has formerly cured colds； and in that way he will cure the
cold from which he is suffering now。
'The Courier obeys in silence。 Judging by appearances； he goes very
reluctantly on this second errand。
'My Lord turns to the Baron （who has thus far taken no part in the
conversation） and asks him； in a sneering tone； how much longer he
proposes to prolong his stay in Venice。 The Baron answers quietly； 〃Let
us speak plainly to one another； my Lord。 If you wish me to leave your
house； you have only to say the word； and I go。〃 My Lord turns to his
wife； and asks if she can support the calamity of her brother's absence
laying a grossly insulting emphasis on the word 〃brother。〃 The Countess
preserves her impenetrable composure； nothing in her betrays the deadly
hatred with which she regards the titled ruffian who has insulted her。 〃You
are master in this house； my Lord；〃 is all she says。 〃Do as you please。〃
'My Lord looks at his wife； looks at the Baronand suddenly alters his
tone。 Does he perceive in the composure of the Countess and her brother
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something lurking under the surface that threatens him？ This is at least
certain； he makes a clumsy apology for the language that he has used。
（Abject wretch！）
'My Lord's excuses are interrupted by the return of the Courier with
the lemons and hot water。
'The Countess observes for the first time that the man looks ill。 His
hands tremble as he places the tray on the table。 My Lord orders his
Courier to follow him； and make the lemonade in the bedroom。 The
Countess remarks that the Courier seems hardly capable of obeying his
orders。 Hearing this； the man admits that he is ill。 He； too； is suffering
from a cold； he has been kept waiting in a draught at the shop where he
bought the lemons； he feels alternately hot and cold； and he begs
permission to lie down for a little while on his bed。
'Feeling her humanity appealed to； the Countess volunteers to make
the lemonade herself。 My Lord takes the Courier by the arm； leads him
aside； and whispers these words to him： 〃Watch her； and see that she puts
nothing into the lemonade； then bring it to me with your own hands； and；
then； go to bed； if you like。〃
'Without a word more to his wife； or to the Baron； my Lord leaves the
room。
'The Countess makes the lemonade； and the Courier takes it to his
master。
'Returning； on the way to his own room； he is so weak； and feels； he
says； so giddy； that he is obliged to support himself by the backs of the
chairs as he passes them。 The Baron； always considerate to persons of
low degree； offers his arm。 〃I am afraid； my poor fellow；〃 he says； 〃that
you are really ill。〃 The Courier makes this extraordinary answer： 〃It's all
over with me； Sir： I have caught my death。〃
'The Countess is naturally startled。 〃You are not an old man；〃 she
says； trying to rouse the Courier's spirits。 〃At your age； catching cold
doesn't surely mean catching your death？〃 The Courier fixes his eyes
despairingly on the Countess。
〃My lungs are weak； my Lady；〃 he says； 〃I have already had two
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attacks of bronchitis。 The second time； a great physician joined my own
doctor in attendance on me。 He considered my recovery almost in the
light of a miracle。 Take care of yourself；〃 he said。 〃If you have a third
attack of bronchitis； as certainly as two and two make four； you will be a
dead man。 I feel the same inward shivering； my Lady； that I felt on those
two former occasionsand I tell you again； I have caught my death in
Venice。〃
'Speaking some comforting words； the Baron leads him to his room。
The Countess is left alone on the stage。
'She seats herself； and looks towards the door by which the Courier has
been led out。 〃Ah！ my poor fellow；〃 she says； 〃if you could only change
constitutions with my Lord； what a happy result would follow for the
Baron and for me！ If you could only get cured of a trumpery cold with a
little hot lemonade； and if he could only catch his death in your place！〃
'She suddenly pausesconsiders for a whileand springs to her feet；
with a cry of triumphant surprise： the wonderful； the unparalleled idea
has crossed her mind like a flash of lightning。 Make the two men change
names and placesand the deed is done！ Where are the obstacles？
Remove my Lord （by fair means or foul） from his room； and keep him
secretly prisoner in the palace； to live or die as future necessity may
determine。 Place the Courier in the vacant bed； and call in the doctor to
see himill； in my Lord's character； and （if he dies） dying under my Lord's
name！'
The manuscript dropped from Henry's hands。 A sickening sense of
horror overpowered him。 The question which had occurred to his mind
at the close of the First Act of the Play assumed a new and terrible interest
now。 As far as the scene of the Countess's soliloquy； the incidents of the
Second Act had reflected the events of his late brother's life as faithfully as
the incidents of the First Act。 Was the monstrous plot； revealed in the lines
which he had just read； the offspring of the Countess's morbid imagination？
or had she； in this case also； deluded herself with the idea that she was
inventing when she was really writing under the influence of her own
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guilty remembrances of the past？ If the latter interpretation were the true
one； he had just read the narrative of the contempl
