登陆注册
20043700000069

第69章 CHAPTER XXVII(1)

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 uncertainty that oppressed it, by obtaining positive evidence of the truth, was a chance annihilated 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 interval, 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 conspiracy 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 Baron 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 electrifies the Baron by communicating her idea to him. What danger of discovery have they to dread?

My Lord's life in Venice has been a life of absolute seclusion: 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 gondola 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 accomplishment.

'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 tempted 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 wretch with a photographic portrait of his wife in his hand, crying.

The Countess enters.

'She wisely begins by sympathising with her contemplated accomplice.

He is duly grateful; he confides his sorrows to his gracious mistress.

Now that he believes himself to be on his death-bed, he feels remorse 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 perfectly easy thing," she says; "and suppose you were rewarded for doing it by a present of a thousand pounds, as a legacy 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 miserable plight.

Will she say plainly what this perfectly easy thing is, the doing of which will meet with such a magnificent reward?

同类推荐
  • 金陵望汉江

    金陵望汉江

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 贩书偶记

    贩书偶记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 春闺辞二首

    春闺辞二首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 炎徼纪闻

    炎徼纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 净土简要录

    净土简要录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 暖婚成宠:纪太太,早安

    暖婚成宠:纪太太,早安

    她是一个平凡普通的小白领,简言。他是纪氏少主纪元韩,沉稳内敛,稳操胜券。刚刚从法国回来就与她偶遇,她并无过人之处,只是让他移不开眼。简言亮出钻戒:“看好了,我可是已婚妇女。”他只是瞥了一眼:“钻戒太小了,还是个假货,如果打官司,你老公绝对干不过我。”暗中调查她的身份,发现她竟然是穆氏集团的少夫人?只是好像……酒吧里,简言被他逼入死角。“你你你……”一张薄唇压下,简言很快就在他温柔的攻势中沦陷……事后,他舔舔嘴角,意犹未尽:“穆太太这么生涩,难道从来没接过吻?”“……”此后,死缠烂打,花样百出。她彻底告别平淡无奇的生活,屡屡登上头条,成为全城热议……
  • 爱情向后看

    爱情向后看

    这是一个坚强,行事果断的女人的故事。挺着个大肚子,却遇到丈夫出轨,离不了婚,可是我可以自己生活,没有你,我可以,没有你,宝宝也可以。
  • 邪仙路

    邪仙路

    他是初入修真界的菜鸟,却偶然得到一篇掌握时空秘诀的《大衍时空》法诀,另类的修真秘法,神奇的隔空再造元婴手段。他是同门眼中钉、肉中刺,却又如何凭借神奇功法在道门中立足,建立属于自己的修真皇朝,一步步走向邪仙之路。修真境界划分:炼气期,金丹期,元婴期,化神期,返虚期,合道期,天谴期。
  • 改变千万人命运的人性优点书

    改变千万人命运的人性优点书

    诺贝尔医学奖获得者阿列克斯·卡瑞尔博士曾经说:“不知道如何消除忧虑的商人,他的寿命将不会长久。”这是一本通过认识自我、设计自我、调适自我、展示自我来战胜忧虑、激活潜能,从而开启新生的心灵教本。去善待自己,做到既成功又幸福。
  • 红楼之林如海重生

    红楼之林如海重生

    一路看着女儿泪尽夭亡,直到贾家覆灭,林如海方得以解脱重生。保住老婆孩子,一家五口幸福美满。咦,为什么是五口?林如海重生,林妹妹还会悲剧么?
  • 神临万迹

    神临万迹

    神族所弃之少年堕入凡尘,为了心中那股不灭的执念,他开始修行,恰逢大世来临,神迹降世,各族天才齐出,神殇大陆硝烟四起。看主角如何步步成长,笑傲天地,抱得美人归,谱写一段万古佳话的传奇故事!
  • 花树下的少年

    花树下的少年

    校园的天空是梦一般的蓝色,操坪葱葱盈盈地把绿铺展开。风裹着阳光游走,象打着节拍――它经过时,槐树花便在空中漫天飞舞,象翻滚的云层。花瓣雨随之落下。
  • 虐恋情深:总裁的报复情人

    虐恋情深:总裁的报复情人

    【迷情罂粟】系列,此为第一部,希望大家喜欢!
  • tfboys校园小说

    tfboys校园小说

    我一直很爱你,只是你不知道。——王俊凯姐姐,我爱你,留下吧!做我的女朋友。——王源我一定会把你抢到手的。——易烊千玺
  • 崛起的孱弱者

    崛起的孱弱者

    在斗气剑术称霸的世界里,人类建立了稳定而繁荣的社会。繁荣的社会给于各种力量充足的养分,异种力量蠢蠢欲动。它们要求生存,它们要求发展,它们要求强大。终于,新势力与旧势力之间,挣扎生存与维持秩序之间,发生碰撞!战争,冲突,随之来临。铁与血,汗与泪,能证明什么?推荐:《文员传说》以文为武的好书,值得一读。推荐:《纨绔人生》都市类好书。