Отель с привидениями

           HeisstruckbytheCountess’spersonalappearance,inwhichbeautiesanddefectsarefantasticallymingledinthemostattractivemanner.HewatchestheCountess’sgame,andplaceshismoneywhereheseesherdepositherownlittlestake.Shelooksroundathim,andsays,"Don’ttrusttomycolour;Ihavebeenunluckythewholeevening.Placeyourstakeontheothercolour,andyoumayhaveachanceofwinning."MyLord(atrueEnglishman)blushes,bows,andobeys.TheCountessprovestobeaprophet.Shelosesagain.MyLordwinstwicethesumthathehasrisked.

           ’TheCountessrisesfromthetable.Shehasnomoremoney,andsheoffersmyLordherchair.

           ’Insteadoftakingit,hepolitelyplaceshiswinningsinherhand,andbegshertoaccepttheloanasafavourtohimself.TheCountessstakesagain,andlosesagain.MyLordsmilessuperbly,andpressesasecondloanonher.Fromthatmomentherluckturns.Shewins,andwinslargely.Herbrother,theBaron,tryinghisfortuneinanotherroom,hearsofwhatisgoingon,andjoinsmyLordandtheCountess.

           ’Payattention,ifyouplease,totheBaron.Heisdelineatedasaremarkableandinterestingcharacter.

           ’Thisnoblepersonhasbegunlifewithasingle-mindeddevotiontothescienceofexperimentalchemistry,verysurprisinginayoungandhandsomemanwithabrilliantfuturebeforehim.AprofoundknowledgeoftheoccultscienceshaspersuadedtheBaronthatitispossibletosolvethefamousproblemcalledthe"Philosopher’sStone."Hisownpecuniaryresourceshavelongsincebeenexhaustedbyhiscostlyexperiments.