Отель с привидениями

           Hehaspresentedhisletterofcreditasaperfectstranger;andheandhisbankerhaveneverseeneachothersincethatfirstvisit.Hehasgivennoparties,andgonetonoparties.Onthefewoccasionswhenhehashiredagondolaortakenawalk,hehasalwaysbeenalone.Thankstotheatrocioussuspicionwhichmakeshimashamedofbeingseenwithhiswife,hehasledtheverylifewhichmakestheproposedenterpriseeasyofaccomplishment.

           ’ThecautiousBaronlistens—butgivesnopositiveopinion,asyet."SeewhatyoucandowiththeCourier,"hesays;"andIwilldecidewhenIheartheresult.OnevaluablehintImaygiveyoubeforeyougo.Yourmaniseasilytemptedbymoney—ifyouonlyofferhimenough.Theotherday,Iaskedhim,injest,whathewoulddoforathousandpounds.Heanswered,’Anything.’Bearthatinmind;andofferyourhighestbidwithoutbargaining."

           ’ThescenechangestotheCourier’sroom,andshowsthepoorwretchwithaphotographicportraitofhiswifeinhishand,crying.TheCountessenters.

           ’Shewiselybeginsbysympathisingwithhercontemplatedaccomplice.Heisdulygrateful;heconfideshissorrowstohisgraciousmistress.Nowthathebelieveshimselftobeonhisdeath-bed,hefeelsremorseforhisneglectfultreatmentofhiswife.Hecouldresignhimselftodie;butdespairoverpowershimwhenheremembersthathehassavednomoney,andthathewillleavehiswidow,withoutresources,tothemercyoftheworld.

           ’Onthishint,theCountessspeaks.