Готель з привидами

           Ifnothingisdonetopreventit,shemaybedivorcedanddisgraced,andthrownontheworld,withnoresourcebutthesaleofherjewelstokeepherfromstarving.

           ’Atthismoment,theCourierwhohasbeenengagedtotravelwithmyLordfromEnglandcrossesthestagewithalettertotaketothepost.TheCountessstopshim,andaskstolookattheaddressontheletter.Shetakesitfromhimforamoment,andshowsittoherbrother.ThehandwritingismyLord’s;andtheletterisdirectedtohislawyersinLondon.

           ’TheCourierproceedstothepost-office.TheBaronandtheCountesslookateachotherinsilence.Nowordsareneeded.Theythoroughlyunderstandthepositioninwhichtheyareplaced;theyclearlyseetheterribleremedyforit.Whatistheplainalternativebeforethem?Disgraceandruin—or,myLord’sdeathandtheinsurancemoney!

           ’TheBaronwalksbackwardsandforwardsingreatagitation,talkingtohimself.TheCountesshearsfragmentsofwhatheissaying.HespeaksofmyLord’sconstitution,probablyweakenedinIndia—ofacoldwhichmyLordhascaughttwoorthreedayssince—oftheremarkablemannerinwhichsuchslightthingsascoldssometimesendinseriousillnessanddeath.

           ’HeobservesthattheCountessislisteningtohim,andasksifshehasanythingtopropose.Sheisawomanwho,withmanydefects,hasthegreatmeritofspeakingout."Istherenosuchthingasaseriousillness,"sheasks,"corkedupinoneofthosebottlesofyoursinthevaultsdownstairs?"

           ’TheBaronanswersbygravelyshakinghishead.