Готель з привидами

           WasitpossiblethattheCountess,inthepresentconditionofhermind,supposedherselftobeexercisingherinventionwhenshewasonlyexercisinghermemory?

           Thequestioninvolvedconsiderationstooserioustobemadethesubjectofahastydecision.Reservinghisopinion,Henryturnedthepage,anddevotedhimselftothereadingofthenextact.Themanuscriptproceededasfollows:

           ’TheSecondActopensatVenice.Anintervaloffourmonthshaselapsedsincethedateofthesceneatthegamblingtable.Theactionnowtakesplaceinthereception-roomofoneoftheVenetianpalaces.

           ’TheBaronisdiscovered,alone,onthestage.HerevertstotheeventswhichhavehappenedsincethecloseoftheFirstAct.TheCountesshassacrificedherself;themercenarymarriagehastakenplace—butnotwithoutobstacles,causedbydifferenceofopiniononthequestionofmarriagesettlements.

           ’Privateinquiries,institutedinEngland,haveinformedtheBaronthatmyLord’sincomeisderivedchieflyfromwhatiscalledentailedproperty.Incaseofaccidents,heissurelyboundtodosomethingforhisbride?Lethim,forexample,insurehislife,forasumproposedbytheBaron,andlethimsosettlethemoneythathiswidowshallhaveit,ifhediesfirst.

           ’MyLordhesitates.TheBaronwastesnotimeinuselessdiscussion."Letusbyallmeans"(hesays)"considerthemarriageasbrokenoff."MyLordshiftshisground,andpleadsforasmallersumthanthesumproposed.TheBaronbrieflyreplies,"Ineverbargain."Mylordisinlove;thenaturalresultfollows—hegivesway.