Chapter XXVII

           Henryreturnedtohisroom.

           Hisfirstimpulsewastothrowasidethemanuscript,andnevertolookatitagain.Theonechanceofrelievinghismindfromthedreadfuluncertaintythatoppressedit,byobtainingpositiveevidenceofthetruth,wasachanceannihilatedbytheCountess’sdeath.Whatgoodpurposecouldbeserved,whatreliefcouldheanticipate,ifhereadmore?

           Hewalkedupanddowntheroom.Afteraninterval,histhoughtstookanewdirection;thequestionofthemanuscriptpresenteditselfunderanotherpointofview.Thusfar,hisreadinghadonlyinformedhimthattheconspiracyhadbeenplanned.Howdidheknowthattheplanhadbeenputinexecution?

           Themanuscriptlayjustbeforehimonthefloor.Hehesitated;thenpickeditup;and,returningtothetable,readonasfollows,fromthepointatwhichhehadleftoff.

           ’WhiletheCountessisstillabsorbedintheboldyetsimplecombinationofcircumstanceswhichshehasdiscovered,theBaronreturns.HetakesaseriousviewofthecaseoftheCourier;itmaybenecessary,hethinks,tosendformedicaladvice.Noservantisleftinthepalace,nowtheEnglishmaidhastakenherdeparture.TheBaronhimselfmustfetchthedoctor,ifthedoctorisreallyneeded.

           ’"Letushavemedicalhelp,byallmeans,"hissisterreplies."ButwaitandhearsomethingthatIhavetosaytoyoufirst."ShethenelectrifiestheBaronbycommunicatingherideatohim.Whatdangerofdiscoveryhavetheytodread?MyLord’slifeinVenicehasbeenalifeofabsoluteseclusion:nobodybuthisbankerknowshim,evenbypersonalappearance.