Готель з привидами

           Whatisheafraidof?—apossibleexaminationofthebodyafterdeath?No:hecansetanypost-mortemexaminationatdefiance.Itistheprocessofadministeringthepoisonthathedreads.AmansodistinguishedasmyLordcannotbetakenseriouslyillwithoutmedicalattendance.WherethereisaDoctor,thereisalwaysdangerofdiscovery.Then,again,thereistheCourier,faithfultomyLordaslongasmyLordpayshim.EveniftheDoctorseesnothingsuspicious,theCouriermaydiscoversomething.Thepoison,todoitsworkwiththenecessarysecrecy,mustberepeatedlyadministeredingraduateddoses.Onetriflingmiscalculationormistakemayrousesuspicion.Theinsuranceofficesmayhearofit,andmayrefusetopaythemoney.Asthingsare,theBaronwillnotriskit,andwillnotallowhissistertoriskitinhisplace.

           ’MyLordhimselfisthenextcharacterwhoappears.HehasrepeatedlyrungfortheCourier,andthebellhasnotbeenanswered."Whatdoesthisinsolencemean?"

           ’TheCountess(speakingwithquietdignity—forwhyshouldherinfamoushusbandhavethesatisfactionofknowinghowdeeplyhehaswoundedher?)remindsmyLordthattheCourierhasgonetothepost.MyLordaskssuspiciouslyifshehaslookedattheletter.TheCountessinformshimcoldlythatshehasnocuriosityabouthisletters.Referringtothecoldfromwhichheissuffering,sheinquiresifhethinksofconsultingamedicalman.MyLordanswersroughlythatheisquiteoldenoughtobecapableofdoctoringhimself.

           ’Ashemakesthisreply,theCourierappears,returningfromthepost.