the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第49章
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him talk about fourth and fifth acts you must have seen rehearsals； and
all the rest of it。' She abruptly thrust the manuscript into Henry's hand。 'I
can't read it to you；' she said； 'I feel giddy when I look at my own writing。
Just run your eye over it； there's a good fellowand give me a hint。'
Henry glanced at the manuscript。 He happened to look at the list of
the persons of the drama。 As he read the list he started and turned
abruptly to the Countess； intending to ask her for some explanation。 The
words were suspended on his lips。 It was but too plainly useless to speak
to her。 Her head lay back on the rail of the chair。 She seemed to be half
asleep already。 The flush on her face had deepened： she looked like a
woman who was in danger of having a fit。
He rang the bell； and directed the man who answered it to send one of
the chambermaids upstairs。 His voice seemed to partially rouse the
Countess； she opened her eyes in a slow drowsy way。 'Have you read it？'
she asked。
It was necessary as a mere act of humanity to humour her。 'I will read
it willingly；' said Henry； 'if you will go upstairs to bed。 You shall hear
what I think of it to…morrow morning。 Our heads will be clearer； we shall
be better able to make the fourth act in the morning。'
The chambermaid came in while he was speaking。 'I am afraid the
lady is ill；' Henry whispered。 'Take her up to her room。' The woman
looked at the Countess and whispered back； 'Shall we send for a doctor；
sir？'
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
Henry advised taking her upstairs first； and then asking the manager's
opinion。 There was great difficulty in persuading her to rise； and accept
the support of the chambermaid's arm。 It was only by reiterated promises
to read the play that night； and to make the fourth act in the morning； that
Henry prevailed on the Countess to return to her room。
Left to himself； he began to feel a certain languid curiosity in relation
to the manuscript。 He looked over the pages； reading a line here and a
line there。 Suddenly he changed colour as he read and looked up from
the manuscript like a man bewildered。 'Good God！ what does this mean？'
he said to himself。
His eyes turned nervously to the door by which Agnes had left him。
She might return to the drawing…room； she might want to see what the
Countess had written。 He looked back again at the passage which had
startled himconsidered with himself for a moment and； snatching up
the unfinished play； suddenly and softly left the room。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER XXVI
Entering his own room on the upper floor； Henry placed the
manuscript on his table； open at the first leaf。 His nerves were
unquestionably shaken； his hand trembled as he turned the pages； he
started at chance noises on the staircase of the hotel。
The scenario； or outline； of the Countess's play began with no formal
prefatory phrases。 She presented herself and her work with the easy
familiarity of an old friend。
'Allow me； dear Mr。 Francis Westwick； to introduce to you the persons
in my proposed Play。 Behold them； arranged symmetrically in a line。
'My Lord。 The Baron。 The Courier。 The Doctor。 The Countess。
'I don't trouble myself； you see； to invest fictitious family names。 My
characters are sufficiently distinguished by their social titles； and by the
striking contrast which they present one with another。
The First Act opens
'No！ Before I open the First Act； I must announce； injustice to myself；
that this Play is entirely the work of my own invention。 I scorn to borrow
from actual events； and； what is more extraordinary still； I have not stolen
one of my ideas from the Modern French drama。 As the manager of an
English theatre； you will naturally refuse to believe this。 It doesn't matter。
Nothing mattersexcept the opening of my first act。
'We are at Homburg； in the famous Salon d'Or； at the height of the
season。 The Countess （exquisitely dressed） is seated at the green table。
Strangers of all nations are standing behind the players； venturing their
money or only looking on。 My Lord is among the strangers。 He is struck
by the Countess's personal appearance； in which beauties and defects are
fantastically mingled in the most attractive manner。 He watches the
Countess's game； and places his money where he sees her deposit her own
little stake。 She looks round at him； and says； 〃Don't trust to my colour； I
have been unlucky the whole evening。 Place your stake on the other colour；
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
and you may have a chance of winning。〃 My Lord （a true Englishman）
blushes； bows； and obeys。 The Countess proves to be a prophet。 She
loses again。 My Lord wins twice the sum that he has risked。
'The Countess rises from the table。 She has no more money； and she
offers my Lord her chair。
'Instead of taking it； he politely places his winnings in her hand； and
begs her to accept the loan as a favour to himself。 The Countess stakes
again； and loses again。 My Lord smiles superbly； and presses a second
loan on her。 From that moment her luck turns。 She wins； and wins
largely。 Her brother； the Baron； trying his fortune in another room； hears
of what is going on； and joins my Lord and the Countess。
'Pay attention； if you please； to the Baron。 He is delineated as a
remarkable and interesting character。
'This noble person has begun life with a single…minded devotion to the
science of experimental chemistry； very surprising in a young and
handsome man with a brilliant future before him。 A profound knowledge
of the occult sciences has persuaded the Baron that it is possible to solve
the famous problem called the 〃Philosopher's Stone。〃 His own pecuniary
resources have long since been exhausted by his costly experiments。 His
sister has next supplied him with the small fortune at her disposal：
reserving only the family jewels； placed in the charge of her banker and
friend at Frankfort。 The Countess's fortune also being swallowed up； the
Baron has in a fatal moment sought for new supplies at the gaming table。
He proves； at starting on his perilous career； to be a favourite of fortune；
wins largely； and； alas！ profanes his noble enthusiasm for science by
yielding his soul to the all…debasing passion of the gamester。
'At the period of the Play； the Baron's good fortune has deserted him。
He sees his way to a crowning experiment in the fatal search after the
secret of transmuting the baser elements into gold。 But how is he to pay
the preliminary expenses？ Destiny； like a mocking echo； answers； How？
'Will his sister's winnings （with my Lord's money） prove large enough
to
