Готель з привидами

           "

           ’TheCountesslistensinsurpriseanddismay.IsitpossiblethattheBaronisinearnest?Heishorriblyinearnest."Thewomanwhowillbuyme,"hesays,"isinthenextroomtousatthismoment.SheisthewealthywidowofaJewishusurer.ShehasthemoneyIwanttoreachthesolutionofthegreatproblem.Ihaveonlytobethatwoman’shusband,andtomakemyselfmasterofuntoldmillionsofgold.TakefiveminutestoconsiderwhatIhavesaidtoyou,andtellmeonmyreturnwhichofusistomarryforthemoneyIwant,youorI."

           ’Asheturnsaway,theCountessstopshim.

           ’Allthenoblestsentimentsinhernatureareexaltedtothehighestpitch."Whereisthetruewoman,"sheexclaims,"whowantstimetoconsummatethesacrificeofherself,whenthemantowhomsheisdevoteddemandsit?Shedoesnotwantfiveminutes—shedoesnotwantfiveseconds—sheholdsoutherhandtohim,andshesays,Sacrificemeonthealtarofyourglory!Takeasstepping-stonesonthewaytoyourtriumph,mylove,myliberty,andmylife!"

           ’Onthisgrandsituationthecurtainfalls.Judgingbymyfirstact,Mr.Westwick,tellmetruly,anddon’tbeafraidofturningmyhead:—AmInotcapableofwritingagoodplay?’

           HenrypausedbetweentheFirstandSecondActs;reflecting,notonthemeritsoftheplay,butonthestrangeresemblancewhichtheincidentssofarpresentedtotheincidentsthathadattendedthedisastrousmarriageofthefirstLordMontbarry.