the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第48节
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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
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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。'
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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 room。
'We have just returned from the Opera；' he said； 'and we have heard the
news of that miserable woman's death。 They say you spoke to her in her
last moments； and I want to hear how it happened。'
'You shall hear how it happened；' Henry answered； 'and more than that。
You are now the head of the family； Stephen； and I feel bound； in the
position which oppresses me； to leave you to decide what ought to be
done。'
With those introductory words； he told his brother how the Countess's
play had come into his hands。 'Read the first few pages；' he said。 'I am
anxious to know whether the same impression is produced on both of us。'
Before Lord Montbarry had got half…way through the First Act； he
stopped； and looked at his brother。 'What does she mean by boasting of
this as her own invention？' he asked。 'Was she too crazy to remember
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that these things really happened？'
This was enough for Henry： the same impression had been produced
on both of them。 'You will do as you please；' he said。 'But if you will be
guided by me； spare yourself the reading of those pages to come； which
describe our brother's terrible expiation of his heartless marriage。'
'Have you read it all； Henry？'
'Not all。 I shrank from reading some of the latter part of it。 Neither
you nor I saw much of our elder brother after we left school； and； for my
part； I felt； and never scrupled to express my feeling； that he behaved
infamously to Agnes。 But when I read that unconscious confession of the
murderous conspiracy to which he fell a victim； I remembered； with
something like remorse； that the same mother bore us。 I have felt for him
to…night； what I am ashamed to think I never felt for him before。'
Lord Montbarry took his brother's hand。
'You are a good fellow； Henry；' he said； 'but are you quite sure that you
have not been needlessly distressing yourself？ Because some of this crazy
creature's writing accidentally tells what we know to be the truth； does it
follow that all the rest is to be relied on to the end？'
'There is no possible doubt of it；' Henry replied。
'No possible doubt？' his brother repeated。 'I shall go on with my
reading； Henryand see what justification there may be for that confident
conclusion of yours。'
He read on steadily； until he had reached the end of the Second Act。
Then he looked up。
'Do you really believe that the mutilated remains which you
discovered this morning are the remains of our brother？' he asked。 'And do
you believe it on such evidence as this？'
Henry answered silently by a sign in the affirmative。
Lord Montbarry checked himselfevidently on the point of entering an
indignant protest。
'You acknowledge that you have not read the later scenes of the piece；'
he said。 'Don't be childish； Henry！ If you persist in pinning your faith
on such stuff as this； the least you can do is to make yourself thoroughly
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acquainted with it。 Will you read the Third Act？ No？ Then I shall read
it to you。'
He turned to the Third Act； and ran over those fragmentary passages
which were clearly enough written and expressed to be intelligible to the
mind of a stranger。
'Here is a scene in the vaults of the palace；' he began。 'The victim of
the conspiracy is sleeping on his miserable bed； and the Baron and the
Countess are considering the position in which they stand。 The Countess
（as well as I can make it out） has raised the money that is wanted by
