Готель з привидами

           Shewillgiveupherwages,andreturnatoncetoEngland.Beingaskedherreasonforthisstrangeproceeding,sheinsolentlyhintsthattheCountess’sserviceisnoserviceforanhonestwoman,sincetheBaronhasenteredthehouse.TheCountessdoes,whatanyladyinherpositionwoulddo;sheindignantlydismissesthewretchonthespot.

           ’MyLord,hearinghiswife’svoiceraisedinanger,leavesthestudyinwhichheisaccustomedtoshuthimselfupoverhisbooks,andaskswhatthisdisturbancemeans.TheCountessinformshimoftheoutrageouslanguageandconductofhermaid.MyLordnotonlydeclareshisentireapprovalofthewoman’sconduct,butexpresseshisownabominabledoubtsofhiswife’sfidelityinlanguageofsuchhorriblebrutalitythatnoladycouldpolluteherlipsbyrepeatingit."IfIhadbeenaman,"theCountesssays,"andifIhadhadaweaponinmyhand,Iwouldhavestruckhimdeadatmyfeet!"

           ’TheBaron,listeningsilentlysofar,nowspeaks."Permitmetofinishthesentenceforyou,"hesays."Youwouldhavestruckyourhusbanddeadatyourfeet;andbythatrashact,youwouldhavedeprivedyourselfoftheinsurancemoneysettledonthewidow—theverymoneywhichiswantedtorelieveyourbrotherfromtheunendurablepecuniarypositionwhichhenowoccupies!"

           ’TheCountessgravelyremindstheBaronthatthisisnojokingmatter.AfterwhatmyLordhassaidtoher,shehaslittledoubtthathewillcommunicatehisinfamoussuspicionstohislawyersinEngland.