Henry returned to his room.
His first impulse was to throw aside the manuscript, and never to look at it again. The one chance of relieving his mind from the dreadful uncertainty2 that oppressed it, by obtaining positive evidence of the truth, was a chance annihilated3 by the Countess’s death. What good purpose could be served, what relief could he anticipate, if he read more?
He walked up and down the room. After an interval4, his thoughts took a new direction; the question of the manuscript presented itself under another point of view. Thus far, his reading had only informed him that the conspiracy5 had been planned. How did he know that the plan had been put in execution?
The manuscript lay just before him on the floor. He hesitated; then picked it up; and, returning to the table, read on as follows, from the point at which he had left off.
‘While the Countess is still absorbed in the bold yet simple combination of circumstances which she has discovered, the Baron6 returns. He takes a serious view of the case of the Courier; it may be necessary, he thinks, to send for medical advice. No servant is left in the palace, now the English maid has taken her departure. The Baron himself must fetch the doctor, if the doctor is really needed.
‘ “Let us have medical help, by all means,” his sister replies. “But wait and hear something that I have to say to you first.” She then electrifies7 the Baron by communicating her idea to him. What danger of discovery have they to dread1? My Lord’s life in Venice has been a life of absolute seclusion8: nobody but his banker knows him, even by personal appearance. He has presented his letter of credit as a perfect stranger; and he and his banker have never seen each other since that first visit. He has given no parties, and gone to no parties. On the few occasions when he has hired a gondola9 or taken a walk, he has always been alone. Thanks to the atrocious suspicion which makes him ashamed of being seen with his wife, he has led the very life which makes the proposed enterprise easy of accomplishment10.
‘The cautious Baron listens — but gives no positive opinion, as yet. “See what you can do with the Courier,” he says; “and I will decide when I hear the result. One valuable hint I may give you before you go. Your man is easily tempted11 by money — if you only offer him enough. The other day, I asked him, in jest, what he would do for a thousand pounds. He answered, ‘Anything.’ Bear that in mind; and offer your highest bid without bargaining.”
‘The scene changes to the Courier’s room, and shows the poor wretch12 with a photographic portrait of his wife in his hand, crying. The Countess enters.
‘She wisely begins by sympathising with her contemplated13 accomplice14. He is duly grateful; he confides15 his sorrows to his gracious mistress. Now that he believes himself to be on his death-bed, he feels remorse16 for his neglectful treatment of his wife. He could resign himself to die; but despair overpowers him when he remembers that he has saved no money, and that he will leave his widow, without resources, to the mercy of the world.
‘On this hint, the Countess speaks. “Suppose you were asked to do a perfectly17 easy thing,” she says; “and suppose you were rewarded for doing it by a present of a thousand pounds, as a legacy18 for your widow?”
‘The Courier raises himself on his pillow, and looks at the Countess with an expression of incredulous surprise. She can hardly be cruel enough (he thinks) to joke with a man in his miserable19 plight20. Will she say plainly what this perfectly easy thing is, the doing of which will meet with such a magnificent reward?
‘The Countess answers that question by confiding21 her project to the Courier, without the slightest reserve.
‘Some minutes of silence follow when she has done. The Courier is not weak enough yet to speak without stopping to think first. Still keeping his eyes on the Countess, he makes a quaintly22 insolent23 remark on what he has just heard. “I have not hitherto been a religious man; but I feel myself on the way to it. Since your ladyship has spoken to me, I believe in the Devil.” It is the Countess’s interest to see the humorous side of this confession24 of faith. She takes no offence. She only says, “I will give you half an hour by yourself, to think over my proposal. You are in danger of death. Decide, in your wife’s interests, whether you will die worth nothing, or die worth a thousand pounds.”
‘Left alone, the Courier seriously considers his position — and decides. He rises with difficulty; writes a few lines on a leaf taken from his pocket-book; and, with slow and faltering25 steps, leaves the room.
‘The Countess, returning at the expiration26 of the half-hour’s interval, finds the room empty. While she is wondering, the Courier opens the door. What has he been doing out of his bed? He answers, “I have been protecting my own life, my lady, on the bare chance that I may recover from the bronchitis for the third time. If you or the Baron attempts to hurry me out of this world, or to deprive me of my thousand pounds reward, I shall tell the doctor where he will find a few lines of writing, which describe your ladyship’s plot. I may not have strength enough, in the case supposed, to betray you by making a complete confession with my own lips; but I can employ my last breath to speak the half-dozen words which will tell the doctor where he is to look. Those words, it is needless to add, will be addressed to your Ladyship, if I find your engagements towards me faithfully kept.”
‘With this audacious preface, he proceeds to state the conditions on which he will play his part in the conspiracy, and die (if he does die) worth a thousand pounds.
‘Either the Countess or the Baron are to taste the food and drink brought to his bedside, in his presence, and even the medicines which the doctor may prescribe for him. As for the promised sum of money, it is to be produced in one bank-note, folded in a sheet of paper, on which a line is to be written, dictated27 by the Courier. The two enclosures are then to be sealed up in an envelope, addressed to his wife, and stamped ready for the post. This done, the letter is to be placed under his pillow; the Baron or the Countess being at liberty to satisfy themselves, day by day, at their own time, that the letter remains28 in its place, with the seal unbroken, as long as the doctor has any hope of his patient’s recovery. The last stipulation29 follows. The Courier has a conscience; and with a view to keeping it easy, insists that he shall be left in ignorance of that part of the plot which relates to the sequestration of my Lord. Not that he cares particularly what becomes of his miserly master — but he does dislike taking other people’s responsibilities on his own shoulders.
‘These conditions being agreed to, the Countess calls in the Baron, who has been waiting events in the next room.
‘He is informed that the Courier has yielded to temptation; but he is still too cautious to make any compromising remarks. Keeping his back turned on the bed, he shows a bottle to the Countess. It is labelled “Chloroform.” She understands that my Lord is to be removed from his room in a convenient state of insensibility. In what part of the palace is he to be hidden? As they open the door to go out, the Countess whispers that question to the Baron. The Baron whispers back, “In the vaults30!” The curtain falls.’
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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electrifies
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| v.使电气化( electrify的第三人称单数 )；使兴奋 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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gondola
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| n.威尼斯的平底轻舟；飞船的吊船 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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confides
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的第三人称单数 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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stipulation
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| n.契约，规定，条文；条款说明 | |
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vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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