Готель з привидами

           MyLordgiveshimorderstogooutagainandbuysomelemons.Heproposestotryhotlemonadeasameansofinducingperspirationinbed.Inthatwayhehasformerlycuredcolds,andinthatwayhewillcurethecoldfromwhichheissufferingnow.

           ’TheCourierobeysinsilence.Judgingbyappearances,hegoesveryreluctantlyonthisseconderrand.

           ’MyLordturnstotheBaron(whohasthusfartakennopartintheconversation)andaskshim,inasneeringtone,howmuchlongerheproposestoprolonghisstayinVenice.TheBaronanswersquietly,"Letusspeakplainlytooneanother,myLord.Ifyouwishmetoleaveyourhouse,youhaveonlytosaytheword,andIgo."MyLordturnstohiswife,andasksifshecansupportthecalamityofherbrother’sabsence—layingagrosslyinsultingemphasisontheword"brother."TheCountesspreservesherimpenetrablecomposure;nothinginherbetraysthedeadlyhatredwithwhichsheregardsthetitledruffianwhohasinsultedher."Youaremasterinthishouse,myLord,"isallshesays."Doasyouplease."

           ’MyLordlooksathiswife;looksattheBaron—andsuddenlyaltershistone.DoesheperceiveinthecomposureoftheCountessandherbrothersomethinglurkingunderthesurfacethatthreatenshim?Thisisatleastcertain,hemakesaclumsyapologyforthelanguagethathehasused.(Abjectwretch!)

           ’MyLord’sexcusesareinterruptedbythereturnoftheCourierwiththelemonsandhotwater.

           ’TheCountessobservesforthefirsttimethatthemanlooksill.Hishandstrembleasheplacesthetrayonthetable.